Nirmala Sitharaman's walkback on 'victim shaming' comment

"Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman took to social media platform X to address the criticism surrounding her recent remarks about the death of an EY employee, clarifying that her comments were intended to highlight the importance of institutional and family support in helping students cope with life’s pressures. She firmly denied any accusation of victim shaming, stating that this was neither intended nor implied. Sitharaman explained that her remarks, made during a talk at a university near Chennai, were in the context of discussing the importance of building inner strength among students. She pointed out that the university had set up a meditation hall and a place of worship to assist students in managing stress, and her comments were aligned with this effort. Additionally, she clarified that no specific names were mentioned in her speech, whether of the individual or the firm involved."

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman clarified her recent comments regarding the death of 26-year-old Anna Sebastian Perayil, a young CA professional, stating that her remarks were not intended to be "victim shaming." Responding to criticism from Shiv Sena-UBT leader Priyanka Chaturvedi on X, Sitharaman expressed her grief over Perayil's tragic loss and emphasised the importance of institutions and families in providing support to children.

During a speech at a private medical college, Sitharaman referenced Perayil’s situation, which has garnered widespread attention after her mother claimed that her daughter’s death was due to “work pressure and long work hours” at Ernst & Young (EY) in Pune. This incident has sparked a nationwide debate about workplace stress and mental health among young professionals. Sitharaman reiterated that her intent was to foster discussions about building inner strength and resilience among students, not to blame the victim.

In her speech, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman discussed the tragic case of Anna Sebastian Perayil, emphasising the challenges faced by young professionals in high-pressure environments. While acknowledging the media coverage surrounding Perayil's death, she stated, “...a woman who had studied CA well, unable to cope with the work pressure...she died unable to cope up with the pressure.” However, she did not mention Perayil's name or the company she worked for.

Sitharaman faced backlash from the opposition, particularly the Congress party, which accused the government of failing to recognize the struggles of young professionals. Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi criticised the minister on X, asserting that it was the toxic work culture and long hours, not a lack of inner strength, that led to Perayil's death. She urged the minister to be more sensitive in her remarks.

In response, Sitharaman clarified that her intent was to highlight the importance of resilience among students, particularly after completing rigorous examinations like the CA. She noted that her comments were made in the context of a talk at a Tamil university, where a Meditation Hall and place of worship had been established for student support. Additionally, she mentioned that the Union Labour Ministry is investigating allegations of an exploitative work environment related to Perayil's death.

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