Why is the opposition attacking Nirmala Sitharaman? – Firstpost

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's comments on the tragic death of a young Ernst & Young (EY) employee have sparked a huge political uproar. Anna Sebastian Perayil, a 26-year-old Chartered Accountant (CA) working at EY Pune, died just four months after joining the global accounting firm, reportedly due to work pressure.

In an apparent reference to Anna's death, Sitharaman urged colleges and universities to offer stress management courses. Her comments drew ire from the opposition, with the Congress accusing her of blaming the victims.

Let's take a closer look.

What did Sitharaman say?

Without mentioning Anna or EY by name, Sitharaman said people need inner strength to cope with the pressure, which can be achieved through divinity.

Speaking at a function at a private medical college in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on September 22, the finance minister said, “We have been discussing an issue that has been in the newspapers for two days. Our children are going to colleges and universities and are passing with flying colours. A company – without mentioning the name – is a partnership. There, a woman who had studied CA well could not cope with the pressure of work. Two or three days ago, we got the news – she died because she could not cope with the pressure.”

She suggested that families should teach their children to deal with the pressures of study or work, which, according to the Rajya Sabha MP, “can only be achieved through divinity”.

“Believe in God, we need God’s grace. Seek God, learn good discipline. Your Atma Shakti will only grow from it. Inner strength will only come with growth Atma Shakti”, the finance minister was quoted as saying by the news agency PTI.

“Educational institutions should impart divinity and spirituality. Only then will our children get the inner strength that will help them and the country progress. This is my firm belief,” she added.

Opposition attacks Foreign Minister

The finance minister's comments sparked a backlash; opposition parties expressed their displeasure.

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal sharply criticised Sitharaman for her comments and accused her of blaming the victims.

“It is downright cruel of the Finance Minister to blame Anna and her family for suggesting she should have been taught to cope with stress at home. This type of victim blaming is despicable and no words can express the anger and disgust one feels at such statements,” he wrote on X.

The congressman asked how “heartless” this administration could be. “Parents are still recovering from this terrible tragedy. The toxic work environment should have sparked an honest review of company practices and led to necessary reforms to protect workers,” he added.

Priyanka Chaturvedi, MP from the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) Rajya Sabha constituency, said the EY employee had “the inner strength to handle the stress that comes with the rigours of studying audit”.

“It was the toxic work culture and long hours that took her life. This needs to be addressed. Stop shaming the victims and at least try to be a little sensitive. I am sure God will show you the way if you seek it,” she added.

Sitharaman has reacted to the comments of the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and explained the context of her remarks in Chennai. “With a sense of grief over the tragic loss, I stressed the importance of institutions and families supporting the children. In no way was it intended to embarrass the victims, not even remotely,” the finance minister tweeted on Monday.

Darling @priyankac19,

Had mentioned this matter in a lecture delivered in Tamil at a prestigious university on the outskirts of Chennai.

She had specifically mentioned that the stress she was under after passing such a demanding and rigorous exam as the CA was unbearable. No names were noted, …

— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) 23 September 2024

The Communist Party of India (CPI) has also slammed the finance minister for her “bizarre” and “insensitive” comments. CPI MP Sandosh Kumar reportedly accused Sitharaman of “belittling and demeaning the everyday struggle of working people across the country”.

“Overwork, inhumane working conditions, widespread unemployment and lack of social protection are creating stress and insecurity among workers, especially among the younger sections of our workforce in all professions. Instead of addressing these structural problems, the finance minister's advice to rely on God is bizarre and insensitive,” he said in a statement.

Death of an EY employee

Anna, 26, reportedly died of a heart attack in July. Her tragic death came to light after her mother claimed in a letter to EY CEO Rajiv Memani in India that her daughter died due to “work pressure” at the company.

According to the letter, as a new employee, Anna was overworked and faced a “backbreaking” workload that affected her “physically, emotionally and mentally.”

“On July 20, Anna returned home from the office late in the evening and suddenly collapsed. She was taken to the hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead… Before that, she had no health problems,” the family said. Indian Express.

The letter went viral and sparked an outcry on social media. Anna's death has sparked discussions about the pervasive “toxic” work culture at the Big 4 firms – PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Deloitte, EY and KPMG.

Last week, the centre launched an investigation into the circumstances of the EY employee's death. “We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Anna Sebastian Perayil. A thorough investigation into allegations of an unsafe and exploitative work environment is underway,” Labour Minister Shobha Karandlaje wrote on X.

In a statement, EY said it was “deeply saddened” by the employee's death and said it would “continue to look for ways to improve the workplace and promote better health.”

In a LinkedIn post on Thursday evening, EY India Chairman Memani expressed regret for not attending Anna's funeral and said he was “committed to promoting a harmonious work environment”.

Commenting on the issue, Indian Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Monday (September 23) that the central government has sought information from the state authorities. He said the report is expected to be submitted in the coming week, after which the government will take action.

“We have to study the findings of the report. We have already taken information from the state officials. When the report comes, we can say more about it,” Mandaviya added.

Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, spoke to Anna's parents last week and assured them that he would “personally fight for this cause”. “I have promised Anna's family my personal commitment and the full support of the Congress party to ensure that this tragedy becomes a catalyst for change,” he said.

With contributions from agencies