Indian corporate lobbying

                                  Indian lobbying

Inside informations and sweet heart deals with ministers and top bureaucrats and political masters is the act of Indian lobbyists in New Delhi.Dirty tricks groups running the lobbying in New Delhi and Mumbai for Indian corporate and foreign MNCs also.Business is meshing with politics in the worst possible way.Recent examples of Indian lobbying done by Manu Singhavi who also pleaded for UK based mobile company Vodafone in Supreme court of India also spokesman of ruling Congress party got victory for Vodafone against huge amount payment for Income tax and now income tax will return 1500 crore to Vodafone with interest also.This is the biggest lobbying for mobile company in India by ruling party advocate and leader also.Such type of high profile lobbying done by ruling party leaders in India and get huge lobbying fees also like 5 crore or 15 crore like that for single lobbying.It is complicated system,almost like a parallel govt with its own rules,structure.People are fixed,punished,rewarded indicated a lobbyists in New Delhi.Business lobbying always roam around in New Delhi power corridors like Reliance Bala Subramaniam influence in the corridors of power has alomost given him a godfather like status in the lobbyist circle.They also play vital role in croporate war in power corridor also.Lobbyists in India were shadow warriors.Now lobbyists have become public figures,freely mixing with power centers.The art of lobbying has changed-getting things done at any cost has become the way of life.With designation like external affairs and environment management,lobbyists increasing operate directly via PR outfits.Many companies even maintain dedicated teams for lobbying their cause with the authorities.Corporate influence is becoming stealthier.A more powerful way of lobbying is emerging.In telecom company battle,Ratan Tata group put his weight behind Raja and wanted Maran out of telecom ministry for their favour.There are some industry lobbyists like Ficci and CII,they know the pulse of govt-and know just where to apply pressure.Apex business chambers are the big fish and the most powerful corporate side lobbyists to make policy in favour of companies.There are also smaller and effective bodies like ASSCHAM,NASSCOM for infotech.FIEO for exporters.SIAM for automobile makers.There are legal lobbyists like legal firms are the crucial cog in helping companies deal with regulatory boards and govt appointed commissions.Companies like Dua Consulting for instance which are offshoots of their legal practice,do lots of regulatory work for telecom companies.The ability to walk the talk in the corridors of power in Delhi is preferred USP for top coroprate lawyers like Zia Mody,Ryan Karnajwala and Shardul Shroff.Many foreign consulting firms also hire lawyers by the dozens to help customers lobbyThere are some US lobbyists also work in New Delhi like Ron Somers of the US India business council and numerous trade missions controlled by embassies in Delhi add to the growing numbers that have put India on the global lobbying map.

Frank Wizner of Patton Boggs,a firm that lobbies for India in the US,who supported India's case for nuclear enrichment and reprocessing technology.Richard Celeste,a leading diplomat who encourage trade between India and US.Mr Dilip Cherian who pushes the case given to him.He meets corporates,political masters,policy makers,media,business chambers and embassies at Page 3 cocktail parties in New Delhi.Clinets like Coca-Cola,POSCO and Diageo.He open the doors for his clients in India.He takes pains to stress that his public relations firm treats lobbying as an extension of communication with the govt at one end and with other hand with shareholders of the company.He pulls and pressures of policy making.He was chief editor of powerful Business India also for decade.Tony Jesudasan walked into offices of most senior editors for close to two decades.As Anil Ambani man in New Delhi,he knows everyone from cabinet ministers to top bueraucrats to top media editors also.Big money card playing for big deals in power corridors.He involved in affairs related to power and gas for Anil Ambani ADAG.Even Amar singh also was doing lobbying for nuclear lobby of US in India he came support of Samajwadi party for Manmohan singh govt on nuclear issue in parliament when left parties was opposing this issue and withdraw support also from the Manmohan singh govt.Then Amar singh done strong lobbying in New Delhi for nuclear lobby.Earlier he was main leader of Samajwadi party also lobbied for Anil company in UP state and New Delhi for many projects for his company.He also lobbied for many companies to come to UP state for huge investment in state.There are so many political leaders also involve for lobbying inside the Manmohan singh govt like Sharad pawar and Ajit singh who lobbying for Vijay Mallaya King fisher airlines to get approval for ATF for import by airlines itself which will give real boost up the airlines and save tax also.Foreign direct investment in domestic airlines of India also going to approved by Indian govt soon it is also matter of strong lobbying in New Delhi by various airlines CEOs with civil aviation minister Ajit singh in New Delhi.

Report prepared by Anil Kumar Upadhyaya

Freelance journalist

India

Date-13/8/13