Ramaswami: FINANCE minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced during her second budget speech on February 1 that the government will list LIC in the stock exchange and sell part of its stake via Initial Public Offer (IPO). In justification of her proposal she said, “Listing of companies on stock exchanges disciplines a company and provides access to financial markets and unlocks its value. It also gives opportunity for retail investors to participate in the wealth so created. The government now proposes to sell a part of its holding in LIC by way of Initial Public Offer (IPO).” The hired pen pushers of the government have gone gung-ho after this announcement. It is being claimed that listing of LIC will be of immense help to the policy holders; it will allow analysts to monitor LIC’s governance; LIC will come under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)’s direct watch and strengthen corporate governance.