Kerala Leaders Demand Apology from FM Sitharaman Over Comments on CA's Death

Kerala's CPI(M) and Congress have demanded an apology from Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over her remarks on the tragic death of CA professional Anna Sebastian Perayil. Perayil allegedly died from excessive work stress. The leaders criticized Sitharaman's statement urging families to teach children to handle pressure through divinity.

Kerala's CPI(M) and Congress lashed out at Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday, demanding an apology over her recent comments about the death of a young CA professional, Anna Sebastian Perayil. Perayil, who passed the challenging Chartered Accountant exam in 2023, had only been employed at Ernst and Young's Pune office for four months when she died in July due to alleged overwork.

During an event in Chennai on Saturday, Sitharaman appeared to reference the incident, advising families to teach children how to handle stress through divinity. 'Families should instill inner strength to manage pressure, which can only be achieved through divinity,' she said.

Kerala's tourism and PWD minister, P A Mohammed Riyas, condemned Sitharaman’s remarks, accusing her of protecting 'corporate draculas' who exploit IT workers. Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala also rebuked the Finance Minister for deflecting focus from harsh work environments, asserting that only strong legislative measures can prevent such tragedies. DYFI leaders called for stricter enforcement of labor laws to ensure employee well-being. Both Riyas and Chennithala met Perayil's parents on Monday.

(With inputs from agencies.)