Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Responds to Priyanka Chaturvedi’s Allegations on Anna Sebastian Perayil’s Death
New Delhi, India – Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has responded to allegations made by Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi regarding her comments on the tragic death of 26-year-old Chartered Accountant Anna Sebastian Perayil. Anna, who worked at Ernst & Young (EY), allegedly died due to extreme work pressure.
Priyanka Chaturvedi’s Statement
Priyanka Chaturvedi criticized Sitharaman on social media, accusing her of victim shaming. She stated, “Dear Nirmala Sitaraman ji, Anna had 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, am sure god will be the guide if you seek.”
Nirmala Sitharaman’s Response
In her response, Sitharaman clarified that her comments were not intended to shame the victim. She explained that her remarks were made during a talk at a university near Chennai, where she emphasized the importance of institutional and familial support for students. She said, “Had referred to this matter in a talk delivered in Tamil at a deemed university on the outskirts of Chennai. Had 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 of the firm.”
Sitharaman also mentioned that the Union Labour Ministry has assured a thorough investigation into the allegations of an exploitative work environment at EY.
Anna Sebastian Perayil’s Father’s Account
Anna’s father, Sibi Joseph, shared details about the stressful work conditions his daughter faced. He said, “She joined there on March 18… After one week, she started the regular auditing. There are 6 audit teams in EY Pune, and she was included in the 6th team. The assistant manager allotted and the Audit Manager reviewed the work… She had to work late into the night… After reaching back to her PG also, she had to do additional work which was not concerned with her work… She was not getting time to sleep and eat. She was stressed and she had work pressure.”
He added that Anna used to cry on the phone due to the immense stress and that the family had advised her to resign. However, Anna chose to continue for the exposure she was gaining at EY. Tragically, she collapsed in her room on July 21 and died before reaching the hospital.
Union Minister Suresh Gopi has promised to raise the issue in Parliament.
Doubts Revealed
Union Finance Minister -: The Union Finance Minister is a person in the Indian government who is responsible for managing the country’s money and finances. Right now, this person is Nirmala Sitharaman.
Nirmala Sitharaman -: Nirmala Sitharaman is a leader in the Indian government who takes care of the country’s finances. She makes important decisions about how money is spent and saved.
Priyanka Chaturvedi -: Priyanka Chaturvedi is a member of the Shiv Sena (UBT) party, which is a political group in India. She speaks up about issues and problems that she thinks are important.
Shiv Sena (UBT) -: Shiv Sena (UBT) is a political party in India. Political parties are groups of people who work together to run the government and make laws.
MP -: MP stands for Member of Parliament. An MP is a person who has been elected to represent the people in the Parliament, which is where laws are made in India.
Chartered Accountant -: A Chartered Accountant is a person who is trained to handle money matters, like taxes and finances, for businesses and people. They have to study a lot and pass tough exams.
Ernst & Young (EY) -: Ernst & Young, or EY, is a big company that helps other businesses with their finances, like checking their accounts and giving advice on money matters.
Union Labour Ministry -: The Union Labour Ministry is a part of the Indian government that looks after the rights and well-being of workers. They make sure that workplaces are safe and fair for everyone.
