'Refrain from seeing ghosts everywhere': Nirmala Sitharaman hits back at Rahul Gandhi over Tata Group remarks

NEW DELHI: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday asked Rahul Gandhi to “refrain from seeing ghosts everywhere” after the Congress leader accused the government of “criminally destroying” the Tata Group.Sitharaman’s remarks came after Rahul Gandhi questioned business leaders’ "silence" on the comglomerate in a post on X, amid a dispute over the reappointment of N Chandrasekaran as executive chairman of Tata Sons.Also Read | ‘Tata is being criminally destroyed’: Rahul Gandhi targets PM Modi, Amit Shah amid boardroom feud“Being the LoP @RahulGandhi, I suggest you refrain from politicising every issue. Also, casually labelling commercial and legal matters as criminal is unacceptable,” Sitharaman wrote on X.She alleged that the Congress MP had “repeatedly decried” the successes of Indian industry and its entrepreneurs. The finance minister also accused the Lok Sabha leader of the opposition of now trying to “incite” business leaders to join him in “spreading distrust and toxicity.”Sitharaman further claimed that the Congress had “smothered” Indian entrepreneurs through its “stifling Licence-Quota Raj”, contrasting it with the BJP-led government’s approach of "supporting industry, encouraging investment and promoting economic growth."“For decades, your party had smothered the spirit of Indian entrepreneurs under the stifling ‘Licence-Quota Raj’ and inflicted poverty on crores of Indians. On the other hand, our government led by PM @narendramodi values Indian industry as a creator of jobs and a driver of economic growth. Our policies have been tailored to enable enterprise, support industry and encourage investment,” she added.Sitharaman urged Gandhi to “engage constructively” with the government instead of “casting baseless aspersions” to suit his “narrow political motives”.“The Constitution of India ensures justice to all its citizens and 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,” the finance minister said.Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi wrote on X targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah: “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.”What is the Tata Sons matterRahul Gandhi’s remarks came amid a dispute within the Tata Group over the reappointment of N Chandrasekaran as executive chairman of Tata Sons. Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata has challenged the decision, alleging procedural irregularities and questioning the validity of the resolution.In an October 26 letter to Tata Sons’ company secretary, Noel Tata argued that the reappointment was invalid, citing the absence of a Selection Committee recommendation and the failure to meet requirements under the company’s Articles of Association. He also sought the board meeting’s recordings, minutes and voting details, and asked the company to inform regulators that the resolution’s validity was disputed.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.