Nirmala Sitharaman (left) reminded Rahul Gandhi (right) that political parties, leaders, governments and institutions shared equal responsibility for supporting industry, strengthening farmers and securing the future of the country’s youth. (Express photo)Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday hit back at Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi after he accused the government of “criminally destroying” Tata and alleged that business leaders were afraid to speak out.Responding to Gandhi’s post on X, Sitharaman urged him to refrain from politicising every issue and said that casually labelling commercial and legal matters as criminal was unacceptable.“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.She accused Gandhi of repeatedly decrying the successes of Indian industry and entrepreneurs, and questioned whether he was trying to encourage business leaders to spread distrust and toxicity.Being the LoP @RahulGandhi, I suggest you refrain from politicising every issue. Also, casually labelling commercial and legal matters as criminal is unacceptable.You have repeatedly decried the successes of Indian industry & our entrepreneurs. Now, are you trying to incite our business leaders to join you in spreading distrust & toxicity?For decades, your party had smothered the spirit of the Indian entrepreneurs under the stifling ‘Licence-Quota Raj’ & inflicted poverty on crores of Indians.On the other hand, our government led by PM @narendramodi values the Indian industry as job creators & drivers of economic growth. Our policies have been tailored to enable enterprise, support industry and encourage investment.Political parties, leaders, governments and institutions share an equal responsibility to support our industry, strengthen our farmers and secure the future of our youth.Therefore, it is essential to engage constructively rather than casting baseless aspersions to suit your narrow political motives.The Constitution of India ensures justice to all its citizens & 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.— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) October 28, 2026“For decades, your party had smothered the spirit of the Indian entrepreneurs under the stifling ‘Licence-Quota Raj’ & inflicted poverty on crores of Indians,” the finance minister said.Contrasting the Congress’s record with the Narendra Modi-led government, Sitharaman said the government valued 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 said. “Tata is being criminally destroyed, and no business leader dares say a word,” said Rahul Gandhi in a tweet. (screenshot)Sitharaman also said political parties, leaders, governments and institutions shared equal responsibility for supporting industry, strengthening farmers and securing the future of the country’s youth. She called for constructive engagement instead of what she described as baseless allegations driven by narrow political motives.Story continues below this adInvoking the judiciary, the finance minister said the Constitution ensured justice for all citizens and that courts were entrusted with upholding it. She also accused Gandhi, his party and prime ministers from the Congress of having demeaned the judiciary.“So Rahul ji, refrain from seeing ghosts everywhere,” Sitharaman added.Gandhi, in his original post on X, accused the government of destroying Tata and alleged that business leaders were remaining silent out of fear.“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.