English
English
English
Sitharaman hits back at Rahul Gandhi over Tata dispute (Img: Dynamite News)
New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday hit back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the Tata leadership dispute, accusing him of spreading “distrust and toxicity” against Indian industry and entrepreneurs. She urged the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha to stop politicising commercial and legal matters.
The exchange followed Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the dispute at Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group. Gandhi alleged that the conglomerate was being “criminally destroyed” and questioned why business leaders were remaining silent.
In a post on X, Gandhi wrote: “Indian business is not Modi and Shah’s plaything. You lack courage. We don’t. We will ensure justice for these crimes,” he said.
Responding to Gandhi, Sitharaman said political leaders should not casually describe commercial and legal disputes as criminal matters. She also accused the Congress leader of repeatedly criticising the achievements of Indian businesses and entrepreneurs.
“Being the LoP @RahulGandhi, 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 & our entrepreneurs. Now, are you trying to incite our business leaders to join you in spreading distrust & toxicity?” Sitharaman wrote on X.
She contrasted the Congress's economic record under the “Licence-Quota Raj” with the policies of the Narendra Modi government, arguing that the latter had focused on encouraging enterprise, supporting industry and attracting investment.
“For decades, your party had smothered the spirit of the Indian entrepreneurs under the stifling ‘Licence-Quota Raj’ & inflicted poverty on crores of Indians.
On the other hand, our government led by PM @narendramodi values the Indian industry as job creators & drivers of economic growth. Our policies have been tailored to enable enterprise, support industry and encourage investment,” she said.
Sitharaman said political parties, governments and institutions had a shared responsibility to strengthen India's industrial sector, support farmers and protect the future of young people.
“Political parties, leaders, governments and institutions share an equal responsibility to support our industry, strengthen our farmers and secure the future of our youth.
Therefore, it is essential to engage constructively rather than casting baseless aspersions to suit your narrow political motives,” she wrote.
Invoking the role of the judiciary, the Finance Minister said the Constitution guaranteed justice to citizens and that the courts were responsible for upholding it. She also accused the Congress leadership of undermining the judiciary.
Also Read: Jio Platforms Enter Stock Market With a Bang; Investors Eye Long-Term Wealth Creation
“The Constitution of India ensures justice to all its citizens & our Honourable Courts are entrusted with upholding it. History is witness to the shoddy manner in which you, your party and the PMs belonging to your party have demeaned the judiciary.
So Rahul ji, refrain from seeing ghosts everywhere,” Sitharaman added.
Being the LoP @RahulGandhi, 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 & our entrepreneurs. Now, are you trying to incite our business leaders to join you in spreading distrust & toxicity?
For decades, your party had smothered the spirit of the Indian entrepreneurs under the stifling ‘Licence-Quota Raj’ & inflicted poverty on crores of Indians.
On the other hand, our government led by PM @narendramodi values the Indian industry as job creators & drivers of economic growth. Our policies have been tailored to enable enterprise, support industry and encourage investment.
Political parties, leaders, governments and institutions share an equal responsibility to support our industry, strengthen our farmers and secure the future of our youth.
Therefore, it is essential to engage constructively rather than casting baseless aspersions to suit your narrow political motives.
The Constitution of India ensures justice to all its citizens & our Honourable Courts are entrusted with upholding it. History is witness to the shoddy manner in which you, your party and the PMs belonging to your party have demeaned the judiciary.
So Rahul ji, refrain from seeing ghosts everywhere.— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) October 28, 2026
The political confrontation comes amid a disagreement over the reappointment of N Chandrasekaran as executive chairman of Tata Sons. The company's board approved his reappointment on September 17, ahead of the end of his current term in February 2027.
Also Read: Central Government Employees Get Festive Cheer as Cabinet Clears 3% DA Hike
Noel Tata, chairman of Tata Trusts, which holds around 66% of Tata Sons, opposed the move and sought the formation of a selection committee to identify a successor.
According to reports, Noel Tata said Chandrasekaran had informed him on August 12 that he did not intend to seek another term. The trusts had accepted that position and wanted a selection committee to be established.
The Tata Sons board subsequently asked Chandrasekaran to reconsider and approved his reappointment. Four directors voted in favour of the resolution, while Noel Tata opposed it.
On October 26, Noel Tata wrote to Tata Sons company secretary Suprakash Mukhopadhyay, challenging the validity and procedure of the resolution, intensifying the dispute over the group's leadership.
