Fired for speaking Hindi with relative on deathbed, Indian-American engineer sues US employer
Indian American man fired for speaking in him alleges systematic racism by US employer. Photo: Representative
A 78-year-old Indian American engineer gave the Unites States Missile Defence Agency (US MDA) over 20 years of his life and talent, strengthening the US missile program. But a missile defence contractor Parsons Corporation, with whom he worked alongside the MDA, allegedly fired him in 2022 for speaking in Hindi to a dying relative and also blacklisted him from ever working with MDA and the US government.
Anil Varshney, a long-time Senior Systems Engineer with Parsons Corporation in Alabama sued the defence contractor for systemic discrimination and unjust termination of his job.
What happened?
- Varshney was fired from Parsons in October 2022 over security violations, which he claims are unjust and untrue.
- Anil Varshney was working at the MDA building as usual when he got a video call from his brother-in-law, who was on his deathbed.
- Varshney took the call in an empty cubicle, ensuring there are no work-related documents or any classified materials near him.
- He spoke to his dying brother-in-law for a mere 2 minutes in Hindi when he was interrupted by a white colleague who warned him that calls were not allowed. Varshey disconnected the call immediately.
- A week later, Varshney's office was searched and he was fired without any investigation into the issue.
- The lawsuit claims that the white co-worker who warned him against the call was "intimidated by Varshney speaking in a language he did not understand".
- Varshney also claimed that the co-worker "falsely and intentionally" reported that Varshney "committed a security violation".
- Anil Varshney claimed that there are no rules or regulations of either Parsons or the MDA that prohibits personal calls.
Racial discrimination?
- Varshney in the lawsuit also claims that Parsons "departed from their original protocols" to discriminate against him and end his career.
- Furthermore, Varshney claimed that Parsons admitted they did not conduct a proper investigation to verify the allegations.
- Moreover, the lawsuit also claims that the contractor failed to take similar action against young, white employees.
- Anil Varshney's lawsuit also outlined a sample of racism and ageism that he had to endure while at Parsons Corporation.
- His lawsuit cited an example stating that younger, white employees of Parsons and MDA would frequently ignore Varshney during conversations and meetings. They allegedly also addressed him with names such as "This Thing" in his very presence.
Varshney has sought reinstatement to a position "comparable to his former position", privileges and removal of any disciplinary records linked to him.
In case he's not reinstated, Varshney has demanded "font pay including benefits" and compensation for "mental anguish and emotional distress" along with attonery's fees.