Wal-Mart rocks Rajya Sabha
11 Dec 2012 7:09 AM IST
The Rajya Sabha witnessed another noisy day on Monday when opposition parties raised the issue of reports of Wal-mart spending crores of rupees on lobbying for getting access in the Indian market via Foreign Direct Investment in retail. Government had scored over the Opposition in both houses of the Parliament on the issue last week.
BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad raised the issue during zero hour. ‘All major newspapers today have reports that Wal-Mart, in its lobbying disclosure report, has said Rs.125 crore was spent on lobbying.
Lobbying is illegal in India, and if Wal-Mart has mentioned lobbying, it is bribery. To whom did they give the money? Government of India should tell. It raised a big question on multi-brand retail,’ he said.
Prasad, quoting the report, also said $3 million was spent in lobbying in India in 2012 alone.
‘Government should put a halt to this decision, probe it and clarify,’ he said.
He was joined by members from other opposition parties, including the Left and Trinamool Congress.
As per the lobbying disclosure reports filed by Wal-Mart with the US Senate, the company has spent close to USD 25 million (about Rs 125 crore) since 2008 on its various lobbying activities within US, including on the issues related to enhanced market access for investment in India.
Later, Prasad, talking to reporters outside the Parliament, demanded a fair probe to find out the names of recipients. He demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself come clean on the issue.
BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad raised the issue during zero hour. ‘All major newspapers today have reports that Wal-Mart, in its lobbying disclosure report, has said Rs.125 crore was spent on lobbying.
Lobbying is illegal in India, and if Wal-Mart has mentioned lobbying, it is bribery. To whom did they give the money? Government of India should tell. It raised a big question on multi-brand retail,’ he said.
Prasad, quoting the report, also said $3 million was spent in lobbying in India in 2012 alone.
‘Government should put a halt to this decision, probe it and clarify,’ he said.
He was joined by members from other opposition parties, including the Left and Trinamool Congress.
As per the lobbying disclosure reports filed by Wal-Mart with the US Senate, the company has spent close to USD 25 million (about Rs 125 crore) since 2008 on its various lobbying activities within US, including on the issues related to enhanced market access for investment in India.
Later, Prasad, talking to reporters outside the Parliament, demanded a fair probe to find out the names of recipients. He demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself come clean on the issue.
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