EY employee Anna Sebastian Perayil death: Nirmala Sitharaman denies victim-shaming amid intense backlash
Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday defended her recent remarks regarding work pressure, following a backlash that accused her of victim-shaming in connection with the sudden death of a young employee from Ernst & Young (EY) in Pune.
?
Why Sitharaman faced criticism for?victim-shaming
The controversy erupted after Sitharaman, speaking at an event in Chennai on Sunday, commented on the need for inner strength to cope with stress, which some critics saw as insensitive given the context. The minister had referenced the tragic death of a 26-year-old woman who, according to reports, was overwhelmed by work pressure. Sitharaman's remarks were interpreted as blaming the victim, prompting criticism from political figures and opposition parties.
At the event, delivered in Tamil, Sitharaman spoke about the challenges young professionals face, emphasizing the role of families in preparing their children to handle stress. She remarked that developing inner strength through divinity was key, and added that families should instill this in their children.
'Pressures can be tackled only by relying on God'; Nirmala Sitharaman with bizarre comment regarding death of EY employee Anna Sebastian
byu/Specialist-Court9493 inindia
¡°Our children go to colleges and universities for education and come out with flying colours. A company (without mentioning its name)... it¡¯s a partnership. There, a woman who had studied CA, well, unable to cope with the work pressure, two-three days ago we received news ¡ª she died unable to cope with the pressure,¡± Sitharaman said, as quoted by PTI. She further suggested that inner strength was crucial for managing the pressures of demanding jobs.
Though Sitharaman did not directly name either the company or the employee, her comments were seen as a reference to Anna Sebastian Perayil, the Ernst & Young employee whose death had sparked widespread discussions about toxic work culture. Anna¡¯s mother had publicly shared her daughter¡¯s struggles with the demanding nature of her job and noted that no one from the firm attended the funeral.
Sitharaman's response amid backlash?
Responding to the growing criticism, Sitharaman posted a clarification on X (formerly Twitter), rejecting the accusations of victim-shaming. Addressing comments from Shiv Sena (Thackeray) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, she explained, ¡°Had referred to this matter in a talk delivered in Tamil... specifically mentioned that after clearing a demanding and rigorous examination such as CA, the stress on her was unbearable. No names were taken, neither of the lady nor the firm.¡±
Sitharaman went on to highlight the context of her remarks, noting that the university had set up spaces for meditation and worship to help students build resilience. She emphasized that her comments were intended to underline the importance of institutions and families supporting young people in managing stress, and not to blame the victim.
Meanwhile, opposition leaders criticized the minister's comments. Chaturvedi countered, ¡°It was the toxic work culture, long work hours that took away her life... Stop victim shaming.¡±
Also Read:?Nirmala Sitharaman's 'relying on God' comment over EY employee death sparks Reddit backlash
AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal also condemned Sitharaman¡¯s remarks, calling them ¡°downright cruel.¡± He urged the government to address the toxic corporate practices that put undue pressure on young employees.
CPI leaders, including A.A. Rahim, also criticized the comments, calling them insensitive and demanding a public apology from the finance minister.
For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.
