Walmart’s lobbying creates uproar in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: Minutes after Minister of State for Personnel V Narayanasamy sought to move the bill to introduce quota in promotions, slogan-shouting members of the Samajwadi Party forced adjournment of the Rajya Sabha for the day on Monday,
BJP members, meanwhile, sought to raise the issue of multinational retail chain Walmart reportedly spending Rs.125 crore on lobbying for allowing 51 percent foreign equity in retail trade, alleging that the move was passed after a bribe was received. Lobbying is illegal in India.

Narayanasamy stood up to urge the house to take up The Constitution (117th Amendment) Bill, 2012 for consideration and passage. The bill, a major demand of the Bahujan Samaj Party, seeks to provide reservations in promotions to scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.

Members of the opposition claimed the decision to open up retail trade to 51 percent foreign equity was taken after a bribe was paid. BJP member Ravi Shankar Prasad raised the issue during zero hour, when issues of public importance are raised.

Even as Prasad’s name was last in the list of zero hour mentions, it was taken up first after several opposition parties insisted it was important. Members of the opposition demanded that the decision to open up retail trade to foreign equity be put on hold until an inquiry is conducted into the charges of lobbying.

“All major newspapers today have reports that Walmart, in its lobbying disclosure report, has said Rs.125 crore was spent on lobbying,” Prasad said.”Lobbying is illegal in India, and if Walmart 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.

The angry opposition continued shouting and demanding a clarification, forcing Deputy Chairman Kurien to adjourn the upper house briefly for 10 minutes, and when the house met again it was adjourned till 2 pm then and finally ordering adjournment for the day.

Last week, the decision to allow FDI in retail was put to vote in both Houses of Parliament, and passed. Opposition members had alleged foul play by government in arranging the numbers for the vote, with Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj saying the government misused CBI to get votes from the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party in its favour.