NEW DELHI: Congress leader and Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused the Modi government of allowing the Tata Group to be “criminally destroyed”, amid an escalating dispute between Tata Trusts and Tata Sons over the reappointment of N Chandrasekaran as chairman.In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi criticised business leaders for remaining silent over the developments and accused the government of treating Indian businesses as its own.“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 wrote on X.Rahul Gandhi’s remarks come after Noel Tata, chairman of Tata Trusts, challenged the resolution to reappoint Chandrasekaran as Tata Sons chairman for another five years beyond February 2027. The resolution was passed at a board meeting on September 17.According to people familiar with the matter, Noel wrote to Tata Sons company secretary Suprakash Mukhopadhyay on Monday, arguing that the reappointment was void because it was not included in the meeting’s agenda. The meeting was reportedly meant to discuss a briefing from the nomination and remuneration committee.Noel, who heads Tata Trusts, which owns around two-thirds of Tata Sons, had opposed Chandrasekaran’s reappointment during the board vote. Venu Srinivasan, the other Tata Trusts nominee on the Tata Sons board, supported the resolution alongside the majority.
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The dispute between Tata Sons and Tata Trusts has also extended to the proposed listing of Tata Sons on the stock market. Noel has opposed the move, arguing that a listing could dilute the philanthropic mission of Tata Trusts and expose the group to market volatility. Tata Sons’ board has favoured a listing in line with guidance from the Reserve Bank of India for systemically important non-banking financial companies.The disagreement has prompted both sides to examine their directors and officers liability insurance coverage in anticipation of possible legal proceedings. However, neither side has filed a lawsuit against the other or made a claim under the policies so far.Emails sent to Tata Sons and Tata Trusts seeking comments on the reappointment dispute did not receive an immediate response.