Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused the BJP led government of treating Indian businesses as its “plaything” and alleged that business leaders were afraid to speak out amid a dispute over the reappointment of N Chandrasekaran as Executive Chairman of Tata Sons.
In a post on X, Gandhi claimed that the Tata Group was being “criminally destroyed” and questioned the silence of business leaders over the controversy.
“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,” Gandhi wrote.
Noel Tata challenges Chandrasekaran’s reappointment
Gandhi’s remarks come amid a dispute over the Tata Sons board resolution to reappoint Chandrasekaran, which Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata has challenged on procedural grounds.
In a letter dated October 26 to Tata Sons Company Secretary Suprakash Mukhopadhyay, Noel questioned the validity of the resolution passed at the September 17 board meeting.
He alleged that the agenda circulated to directors did not explicitly mention Chandrasekaran’s reappointment. He also claimed that no Selection Committee had been constituted as required under Tata Sons’ Articles of Association and that the necessary approvals from directors appointed under Article 104B had not been obtained.
Noel further questioned the decision to treat the resolution as final despite the objections raised.
Demand for meeting records
Noel alleged that Tata Sons had withheld the meeting’s audio and video recordings, final minutes and a certified copy of the resolution despite repeated requests.
He described the resolution as “void” and argued that the reappointment did not comply with the company’s Articles of Association.
He has sought the recordings, final or revised minutes, voting details, formal notice, different versions of the agenda and documents filed with the Registrar of Companies and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
Noel has also asked Tata Sons to inform the Registrar that the resolution’s validity is disputed and urged the company to refrain from taking further steps on it until the meeting records are finalised.
