Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi slugged it out on social media after he alleged that the Tata Group is being criminally destroyed and that no business leader dares say a word. Hitting back, Sitharaman said the Leader of the Oppostion (LoP) in the Lok Sabha is trying to incite business leaders to join him in spreading distrust and toxicity, and that he should refrain from politicising every issue.
LoP, FM trade blows over Tata Group
“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,” the Congress leader posted on X.
Rahul’s remarks come amid Tata Group’s dispute over Tata Sons’ leadership. The conflict has already split trustees and spilt into the Tata Sons boardroom. Earlier this week, Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata challenged the Tata Sons’ September 17 board resolution to reappoint N Chandrasekaran as the chairman of the holding company of the country’s largest conglomerate, Tata Group
Accusing the leader of the LoP of repeatedly decrying the successes of Indian industry and entrepreneurs, Sitharaman asserted that the Narendra Modi-led Government values Indian industry as job creators and drivers of economic growth.
Reacting to Rahul, Sitharaman posted on X: “Being the LoP @Rahul Gandhi, I suggest you refrain from politicising every issue. Also, casually labelling commercial and legal matters as criminal is unacceptable… 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 @Narendra Modi values the Indian industry as job creators & drivers of economic growth.
Our policies have been tailored to enable enterprise, support industry and encourage investment… 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.”
Rahul Gandhi responded to her remarks saying, “… 1. Which ‘legal and commercial matter’ required Tata Trusts and Tata Sons to be hosted at Amit Shah’s residence? 2. When is crony number 1 going to appear in the game and which pieces of Tata is he going to get? Finally, all India’s businesses except 3-4 of your cronies, already hate all of you and don’t need any incitement,” he added.
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