Nirmala Sitharaman Responds To Criticism Over Comments On Anna Sebastian's Death
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has responded to backlash following her comments on the tragic death of Ernst & Young employee Anna Sebastian Perayil. Anna, a 26-year-old Chartered Accountant, passed away due to the overwhelming stress from her job. Sitharaman’s initial remarks about managing stress through inner strength and reliance on God were criticised as insensitive and dismissive of the toxic work culture that allegedly contributed to Anna’s death.
Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi was among the first to publicly criticise the Finance Minister. In a tweet addressed to Sitharaman, Chaturvedi said: “Anna had the inner strength to handle the stress that came with pursuing a gruelling Chartered Accountancy degree. It was the toxic work culture and long work hours that took away her life, which needs to be addressed. Stop victim-shaming and at least try to be a little sensitive.”
In response, Sitharaman clarified that her comments were taken out of context. In a statement, she addressed Chaturvedi, saying: “I had referred to this matter in a talk delivered in Tamil at a university on the outskirts of Chennai. I specifically mentioned that after passing a rigorous examination like CA, the stress on her was unbearable. No names were taken, neither of the lady nor of the firm.” The minister added that she had spoken in the context of a Meditation Hall and a place of worship established at the university to help students build inner strength.
Sitharaman expressed grief over Anna’s death, emphasising that her remarks were not intended to blame the victim but to highlight the importance of institutions and families supporting children in managing stress. She also noted that the Union Labour Ministry has assured a thorough investigation into allegations of an exploitative work environment at Ernst & Young.
Anna Sebastian’s death has sparked widespread debate about the pressures young professionals face in India’s corporate sector. Anna, who had recently passed her Chartered Accountancy exams and begun working at Ernst & Young, was reportedly overwhelmed by excessive workloads. Her mother, in a letter to the company’s India head, accused the firm of overworking Anna to the point of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion. She also expressed dismay that no one from the company attended Anna’s funeral.
Sitharaman’s initial remarks, which emphasised reliance on God and the importance of “Atma Shakti” (inner strength), were widely seen as downplaying the toxic work culture that is believed to have contributed to Anna’s death. Congress leaders were particularly vocal in their criticism. KC Venugopal, the party’s general secretary in charge of communication, condemned the Finance Minister’s remarks, accusing her of failing to acknowledge the exploitation of young professionals by corporate giants. “It is downright cruel to blame Anna and her family for suggesting that she should have learned stress management at home,” Venugopal said.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also expressed his solidarity with Anna’s family. In a video call with her parents, Gandhi assured them that he would advocate for better working conditions for young professionals in India.
