Rahul Gandhi Says Businesses ‘Hate’ Modi Government

Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi traded sharp remarks with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on October 28, 2026, after a public dispute over the Tata Group and allegations that business leaders were afraid to speak out against the government.

Responding to Sitharaman’s criticism of his earlier remarks about Tata, Gandhi questioned why Tata Trusts and Tata Sons had reportedly been hosted at Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s residence. He also alleged that most Indian businesses opposed the government, except for a few business groups he described as cronies.

Rahul Gandhi’s Response to Nirmala Sitharaman

Gandhi responded to Sitharaman’s post on X by questioning the circumstances surrounding a meeting involving Tata Trusts and Tata Sons at Amit Shah’s residence.

“Which ‘legal and commercial matter’ required Tata Trusts and Tata Sons to be hosted at Amit Shah’s residence?” Gandhi asked.

He followed up with another question about the involvement of a business figure he referred to as “crony number 1” and the future of different parts of the Tata Group.

Gandhi also rejected Sitharaman’s suggestion that his remarks could encourage business leaders to spread distrust and hostility. He argued that Indian businesses did not need to be incited to oppose the government.

“Finally, all India’s businesses except 3-4 of your cronies, already hate all of you and don’t need any incitement,” Gandhi said.

What Rahul Gandhi Said About the Tata Group

The exchange began after Gandhi accused the government of “criminally destroying” Tata and alleged that business leaders were staying silent because they feared speaking out.

In his original post on X, Gandhi wrote that Tata was being harmed and questioned how long Indian business leaders would remain silent. He also argued that Indian businesses should not be treated as political instruments of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

Gandhi called for justice over what he described as wrongdoing involving the group. However, his statements were political allegations, and the supplied account does not establish that criminal wrongdoing occurred.

The dispute brought the relationship between the government, major business groups and political leadership into focus, with the two leaders offering sharply different assessments of the government’s approach to Indian industry.

Nirmala Sitharaman Accuses Rahul Gandhi of Politicising Commercial Matters

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman criticised Gandhi’s remarks, asking him to avoid politicising every issue and arguing that commercial and legal matters should not be casually labelled criminal.

“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 accused Gandhi of repeatedly criticising the achievements of Indian industry and entrepreneurs. She also questioned whether he was attempting to encourage business leaders to join him in spreading what she described as distrust and toxicity.

Sitharaman argued that political leaders had a responsibility to support businesses rather than make allegations that, in her view, were driven by narrow political motives.

Sitharaman Defends Modi Government’s Economic Policies

In her response, Sitharaman contrasted the Congress party’s economic record with the policies of the Narendra Modi-led government.

She accused previous Congress-led governments of suppressing entrepreneurial activity through the “Licence-Quota Raj” and said those policies had contributed to prolonged economic hardship for millions of Indians.

Defending the current government, Sitharaman said Indian industry was valued as a source of employment and a driver of economic growth.

She maintained that the government’s policies were designed to support businesses, encourage investment and enable enterprise. She also said political parties, governments, leaders and institutions shared responsibility for supporting industry, strengthening farmers and protecting the future of young people.

Sitharaman called for constructive engagement on economic issues rather than allegations that she characterised as politically motivated.

Finance Minister Invokes the Judiciary in Her Criticism

Sitharaman also referred to the Constitution and the role of the judiciary, saying that the Constitution guaranteed justice to citizens and that courts were responsible for upholding it.

She accused Gandhi, the Congress party and prime ministers from previous Congress governments of having demeaned the judiciary. She concluded her post by telling Gandhi to stop “seeing ghosts everywhere.”

Her remarks added a judicial dimension to the political dispute, which had initially centred on Gandhi’s allegations about the Tata Group and the government’s relationship with Indian businesses.

Key Points

• Rahul Gandhi and Nirmala Sitharaman exchanged sharp remarks on X on October 28, 2026, over allegations involving the Tata Group.
• Gandhi questioned why Tata Trusts and Tata Sons had reportedly been hosted at Amit Shah’s residence.
• Gandhi claimed that most Indian businesses opposed the government, apart from a few business groups he described as cronies.
• Sitharaman rejected Gandhi’s accusations, defended the Modi government’s economic policies and urged constructive engagement on commercial and legal matters.

FAQs

What did Rahul Gandhi say about Indian businesses?

Rahul Gandhi claimed that Indian businesses, apart from three or four groups he described as the government’s cronies, already opposed the government and did not need anyone to incite them.

Why did Rahul Gandhi criticise Nirmala Sitharaman?

Gandhi responded after Sitharaman criticised his allegations that the government was “criminally destroying” Tata and accused him of politicising commercial and legal matters.

What did Rahul Gandhi ask about Tata Trusts and Tata Sons?

Gandhi questioned what legal or commercial matter required Tata Trusts and Tata Sons to be hosted at Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s residence.

How did Nirmala Sitharaman defend the Modi government?

Sitharaman said the government valued Indian businesses as job creators and drivers of economic growth. She argued that its policies were intended to support enterprise, industry and investment.

Did the exchange establish criminal wrongdoing involving Tata?

No. Gandhi alleged that Tata was being “criminally destroyed,” but the supplied account does not establish criminal wrongdoing. Sitharaman rejected the casual use of criminal labels for commercial and legal matters.