Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 29: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday, October 28, hit back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his allegations concerning the Tata Group, accusing him of politicising commercial and legal matters and attempting to spread distrust among Indian business leaders.
In a post on X, Sitharaman responded to Rahul Gandhi’s claim that the BJP-led government was treating Indian businesses as its “plaything” and that business leaders were afraid to speak out amid the dispute over the reappointment of N Chandrasekaran as Executive Chairman of Tata Sons.
“Being the LoP Rahul Gandhi, I suggest you refrain from politicising every issue. Also, casually labelling commercial and legal matters as criminal is unacceptable. You have repeatedly decried the successes of Indian industry and our entrepreneurs. Now, are you trying to incite our business leaders to join you in spreading distrust and toxicity?” Sitharaman said.
She accused the Congress of suppressing entrepreneurship through the Licence-Quota Raj and said the Narendra Modi-led government viewed Indian businesses as important drivers of employment and economic growth.
“For decades, your party had smothered the spirit of the Indian entrepreneurs under the stifling ‘Licence-Quota Raj’ and inflicted poverty on crores of Indians. On the other hand, our government led by PM Narendra Modi values the Indian industry as job creators and drivers of economic growth. Our policies have been tailored to enable enterprise, support industry and encourage investment,” she said.
The Finance Minister further accused the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition of making baseless allegations for political gain, stressing that political parties, leaders, governments and institutions shared the responsibility of supporting industry, strengthening farmers and securing the future of young people.
Referring to the judiciary, Sitharaman said the Constitution guaranteed justice to citizens and that courts were entrusted with upholding it. She also criticised the Congress for its past treatment of the judiciary and urged Rahul Gandhi to refrain from seeing problems where none existed.
Rahul Gandhi responded by questioning why representatives of Tata Trusts and Tata Sons had to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence if the dispute was purely a legal and commercial matter.
“Which ‘legal and commercial matter’ required Tata Trusts and Tata Sons to be hosted at Amit Shah’s residence?” he asked in his post on X.
He also alleged that the government favoured a small group of business associates, adding that Indian businesses did not need his encouragement to oppose the government.
Earlier on Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Tata Group was being “criminally destroyed” and claimed that business leaders were afraid to speak out against the government.
“Tata is being criminally destroyed, and no business leader dares say a word. How long will you stay silent? Until they own you? Indian business is not Modi and Shah’s plaything. You lack courage. We don’t. We will ensure justice for these crimes,” he said.
The Tata Group did not immediately respond to Rahul Gandhi’s allegations.
The political exchange comes amid a dispute within the Tata Group over the leadership of Tata Sons. The disagreement has reportedly divided trustees and extended into the company’s boardroom.
Earlier this week, Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata challenged the resolution to reappoint N Chandrasekaran as chairman of Tata Sons. The resolution had been passed at the holding company’s board meeting on September 17.