Press : Letter to CEO on Launch of new Plan - LIC - Aadhaar

To,

          The Chief Electoral Office
          Election Commission of India
          Nirvachan Sadan, Ashok Road
          New Delhi-110001

 

Attention:      Shri V.S. Sampath, Chief Election Commissioner
                      Shri H.S Brahma, Election Commissioner
                      Dr. Nasim Zaidi, Election Commissioner

Sir,

Reg: Launch of new Plan- LIC-AADHAAR

          LIC is planning to launch new plan for persons having Aadhaar card and launch date is fixed on 20th March 2014. LIC Chairman is launching the new plan LIC-AADHAAR at Bangalore. This plan is being hurriedly introduced giving so much publicity and with much fanfare raising many doubts. There were plans to introduce many other attractive products from LIC during March and all Marketing forces were awaiting attractive plan in lieu of Jeevan tarang, Bima Gold, Jeevan Ankur and also plan for child segment. Instead of all these, LIC is hurriedly coming out with a product linked with Aadhaar card and that too during the election period. As per Supreme Court judgement Aadhaar cannot be made compulsory for any services including Supply of LPG and as such the introduction of this plan is in violation of Supreme court judgement and also against election code of conduct.

          The various doubts raised on the hurried launch of new product from LIC of India-LIC-AADHAAR is as follows:

1)       This plan is linked to Aadhaar card when all other services are exempted from use of Aadhaar card including direct credit of LPG Subsidy.

2)       Aadhaar card is being used as a poll subject during the election period as the so called founder of Aadhaar Sri. Nandan Nilekani is now a candidate for Congress party and contesting from Bangalore South Lok sabha constituency.

3)       LIC Chairman is launching the new plan namely LIC-AADHAAR at Bangalore on 20th March 2014. From where Sri. Nandan Nilekani is contesting.

4)       Executive director(Mktg/PD) has issued a letter ref: Mktg/Oprns dated 12th March 2014 to all Zonal Managers making it clear that no other conventional plans except LIC-AADHAAR will be launched during the month of March 2014. This further confirms that the aim is to use this as a campaign tool for Shri Nilekani in Bangalore.

          This will give an undue advantage to Sri. Nandan Nilekani and Congress in the present election and this is being routed through LIC by central government pressures.

          I shall be grateful if you would kindly initiate action for the cancellation of the above launch.

Yours faithfully,

 

(R. Ramakrishna)