Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman faced backlash for her comments on the death of Anna Sebastian Perayil, a 26-year-old EY employee, who allegedly succumbed to work pressure. Critics accused her of 'victim shaming' after she suggested that professionals should develop inner strength to handle stress, referencing divinity in her remarks. In response, Sitharaman clarified that her comments were intended to emphasize the need for institutional and familial support for young professionals, denying any intention of victim shaming. She stated that no names were mentioned during her talk and highlighted the university's establishment of a Meditation Hall for students. Opposition parties, including Shiv Sena and Congress, criticized her for failing to address the toxic work culture that contributed to Perayil's death. The Union Labour Ministry has initiated an investigation into the work environment at EY following this incident.