New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched a scathing attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah over the Tata Sons row. He said the BJP-led government was treating Indian businesses like its “plaything” and that business leaders were afraid to speak up.
His comments came amid a dispute over the reappointment of N Chandrasekaran as Executive Chairman of Tata Sons.
In a post on X, Gandhi alleged that Tata was being “criminally destroyed” and asked why business leaders were staying silent.
“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,” Rahul Gandhi said.
Dispute Over Reappointment
The remarks came after Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata challenged the September 17 board resolution that reappointed Chandrasekaran. In a letter dated October 26 to Tata Sons Company Secretary Suprakash Mukhopadhyay, Noel alleged procedural irregularities in the meeting, as reported by The New Indian Express.
He said the agenda sent to directors did not clearly mention Chandrasekaran’s reappointment. He also alleged that no Selection Committee was formed as required under the company’s Articles of Association, and that approvals from directors appointed under Article 104B were not taken.
Noel said Tata Sons should not have treated the resolution as final while objections were still pending. He also alleged that the company did not share the meeting’s audio and video recordings, final minutes and a certified copy of the resolution despite repeated requests.
“The resolution is void,” he stated in the letter, arguing that the reappointment did not comply with the relevant provisions of Tata Sons’ Articles of Association. He also questioned the circulation of a certified copy of the resolution in the public domain and its reported filing with the Registrar of Companies before the minutes had been finalised.
Records Sought
Noel said the meeting recordings were the only neutral record of what happened. He has asked Tata Sons to provide the recordings, final or revised minutes, voting details, the formal notice, different versions of the agenda and documents filed with the Registrar of Companies and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs within seven days.
He has also asked the company to inform the Registrar that the resolution’s validity is disputed by a director nominated under Article 104B and by Sir Dorabji Tata Trust. Noel further urged Tata Sons not to take any further action on the resolution until the meeting records are settled.
