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Bharti Walmart, the Indian arm of global retail chain Walmart has said the allegation that, routine US lobbying disclosures reflect an improper conduct on its part in India is false.
“This disclosure has nothing to do with political or governmental contacts with India Government officials. It shows that our business interest in India was discussed with the US government officials, along with 50 or more other topics, during a three-month period,” a Bharti Walmart spokesperson said in a statement.
The clarification from the company comes following reports that the company had spent Rs 125 crore ($25 million) over four years for various lobbying activities to gain access to Indian markets.
Under the US law, on a quarterly basis, all companies which meet certain time and expenses thresholds, are required to disclose issues and expenditures spent in connection with contacts with the US Government, including staffing cost, association dues, and payments to consultants.
“This is not unique to Walmart. All organisations which expend more than $11,500 annually on lobbying activities and employ at least one lobbyist must register and file the quarterly reports. In the third quarter of 2012, lobbyists and companies filed thousands of forms. As per a Washington DC publication Roll Call in the first quarter of this year, 143 organisations reported expenses of more than $1 million,” the spokesperson added.
Bharti Walmart said its Washington office had discussions with the US government officials about a range of trade and investment issues that impact on businesses in the US and worldwide and disclosed this in accordance with the law.
Probe ordered
Meanwhile, the Government has announced a time-bound inquiry by a retired judge into reports of lobbying by Walmart.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath made the announcement as soon as the Lok Sabha met for the day. “Government will appoint a retired judge to hold a time-bound inquiry into the media reports regarding Walmart,” Nath said.
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