Indian government paid US lobbyists $2.2 million since 2010

The Indian government has paid American lobbyists a total of $2.21 million since 2010 'to promote India's interests in its relations with the United States.' This was disclosed to parliament by Minister of State for external affairs Preneet Kaur on Wednesday.

A total of three firms – BGR government Affairs, Podesta Group, and Patton Boggs LLP were engaged since 2010 by the government. Of these, BGR and Podesta are still engaged by the government. Patton Boggs was engaged till March 2010.

Of the three firms, the largest amount was paid to BGR - $ 1.22 million between 2010 and 2012. Podesta was paid $816,662 and Patton Boggs was paid $174999.

Kaur told the Lok Sabha in response to an unstarred question that “The services of these firms have assisted Government of India in projecting India`s concerns and perspectives on key bilateral and international issues and in promoting India's interests and image in the United States.”

She went on to state that, “they have contributed to advancing India-US strategic partnership based on a broad political consensus and bipartisan support in the United States, as reflected in the fact that India today has one of the largest country-specific support groupings – the Congressional Caucus on India – in the United States Congress.”