Unruly scenes were witnessed in the Rajya Sabha when Opposition created a ruckus over news reports that global retail giant Walmart is lobbying hard to enter into India.
According to reports, the matter was raised in the Upper House by Deputy Leader of Opposition (BJP) Ravi Shankar Prasad, who also demanding a thorough probe into the matter.
The BJP leader said the reports that Walmart is lobbying to enter into India is a serious matter at a time when FDI in retail was cleared in both Houses of Parliament. ”
Prasad also demanded that it is important in this context to ascertain who was being paid by Walmart.
“At a time when floor management in the House to get FDI in retail passed is being talked about, reports of Walmart mentioning expenditure of 125 crores for lobbying to enter into the lucrative Indian market are a serious matter. The decision should be put on hold, inquiry should be ordered and the government should respond. Lobbying is a crime in India,” the BJP leader demanded.
Following the uproar, both Congress MP Rajiv Shukla and MoS PMO V Narayanasamy assured the house that the concerned department will look into the matter. However, the uproar continued and the House had to be adjourned for 10 minutes and then further till 2 pm.
Walmart – waiting for years to open its supermarkets in India – has been lobbying with the US lawmakers since 2008 to facilitate its entry into the highly lucrative Indian market.
As per the lobbying disclosure reports filed by Walmart with the US Senate, the company has spent close to $25 million (about Rs 125 crore) since 2008 on its various lobbying activities, including on the issues related to “enhanced market access for investment in India”.
As per Walmart’s lobbying disclosure reports, the company has continuously lobbied for its India entry since 2008, except for a few quarters in 2009. Indian government recently opened up its multi-brand retail sector for foreign companies after years of political opposition and a Parliament motion against this decision was defeated last week in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
The US-based supermarket chain operator Walmart Stores has an annual turnover of USD 444 billion and a world-wide headcount of 2.2 million.
The Indian retail market is estimated to be worth about $500 billion currently and is pegged to cross $1 trillion mark by 2020, given the rising personal income and growing consumer spending trends.
–PTI