Parliament live: Uproar in Rajya Sabha over Walmart 'lobbying' report

12.22 pm: Uproar in Rajya Sabha over Walmart ’lobbying’ report The Rajya Sabha has erupted in protest after BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad drew attention to a lobbying disclosure report filed by Walmart that revealed it had spent a massive $25 million lobbying to get entrance into India and demanded that the government respond. “Who has taken these bribes? The government must answer”, said Prasad as opposition MPs got to their feet. Congress MP Rajiv Shukla tried to respond but was drowned out by loud protests, prompting deputy chairman PJ Kurien to adjourn the house. According to lobbying disclosure reports filed by Wal-Mart 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 Wal-Mart’s lobbying disclosure reports, the company has continuously lobbied for its India entry since 2008, except for a few quarters in 2009. Read more about the report here 11.18 am: Kamal Nath says Cong will ’try and convince’ SP on promotions quota Rajya Sabha is functioning as usual, with question hour currently underway. But how long this relative state of calm will continue is anyones guess, given that the government plans to go ahead and introduce the SC/ST promotions quota bill in the upper house of Parliament. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said, “Reservation bill is on the first list in the Rajya Sabha, we will try to convince the SP”. The SP is however, sticking firmly to its stand that it will oppose the bill at any cost. 9.30 am: After FDI hurdle, govt faces quota challenge The government may have triumphed on the issue of FDI in retail in Parliament, but it’s still not smooth sailing ahead. There is a very real chance that the Rajya Sabha will not function, given that the SC/ST promotions quota bill is up for discussion and voting next. [caption id=“attachment_551433” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  PTI[/caption] The smooth passage of the bill is the focal point of the Mayawati-led BSP’s Parliamentary campaign, but is being violently opposed by UP arch rival Samajwadi Party. The SP has in fact, vowed that they will not allow the bill to be passed. So it is looking extremely likely that the upper house of Parliament may not see any work done for the rest of the session, as the SP are likely to create an uproar and disrupt the session. SP MP Naresh Aggarwal was quoted by the Times of India as saying, “We will not accept it. You cannot compromise the efficiency of the system by ignoring 82% people.” Talks between the two parties look increasingly unlikely, especially given that Mayawati effectively rendered the SP irrelevant during the FDI debate, by declaring that she would vote with the government on the FDI bill.