Government of India paid over Rs 12 crore for lobbying with the US lawmakers since 2005 on issues mostly related to the civil nuclear deal between the two countries.
Government of India paid USD 2.41 million (over Rs 12 crore) for lobbying with the US lawmakers since 2005 on issues mostly related to the civil nuclear deal between the two countries.
A payment of USD 180,000 (over Rs 90 lakh) was made to a high-profile lobbyist firm here, BGR Holding, in the first quarter of 2009 itself, while USD 2.23 million were paid to the same lobbyist between 2005 and 2008.
As per the disclosure reports filed by Barbour Griffith & Rogers (BGR) with the US House of Representatives and the US Senate, the payments were made against the lobbying done on behalf of the Indian government on issues related to foreign relations.
The lobbying issues were related to the "bilateral US-India relationship and issues related to the civil nuclear agreement," the disclosure said.
BGR did lobbying for Indian government with the members of the Senate, the House of Representatives, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Executive Office of President, National Security Council, US Trade Representative, Department of Labour and Department of State, among other agencies.
BGR lobbyists have previously served in the White House and Congress and also in other senior positions in various other agencies and the firm claims expertise in seeking new legislation or stopping or changing adverse policies.
Its client list comprise of many Fortune 500 companies, foreign governments and trade associations.
Indian government's lobbying bill in 2008 stood at USD 630,000, for 2007 it was USD 640,000, while the maximum of USD 720,000 for a year was in 2006. A payment of USD 240,000 was made in 2005.
The first instance of lobbying-related payment was made by the Indian government in the last quarter of 2005. BGR "provided guidance and counsel with regard to issues impacting bilateral relations between the US and the Republic of India, including a potential civil nuclear agreement."
As per the disclosures, the payments in 2006 were also related to these issues, while the later lobbying expenses were for "bilateral US-India relationship, civil nuclear agreement."
Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh and the then US president George Bush had first announced their intention to enter into a nuclear agreement in July 2005. The negotiations on a bilateral agreement between the US and India concluded about two years later in July 2007.
One month later, both the governments released text of the agreement, but the Left parties continued to oppose the deal and withdrew support to the UPA government in 2008.
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