Include Naidu's Deals In Walmart Probe: YSRCP

The YSR Congress has demanded that the Centre include the name of TDP leader N Chandababu Naidu in the terms of reference of the judicial probe it has ordered into the amount spent by retail giant Walmart for its entry into India.

"It becomes imperative to include his name in the terms of reference, as a top official of Heritage Foods, owned by his family members, had announced that they are scouting for foreign investments," party spokesperson Janak Prasad told reporters on Thursday.

"The voting pattern of TDP MPs in the Rajya Sabha and Chandrababu Naidu's one-to-one meeting with Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram as a precursor to the FDI issue, make us strongly believe that he has put personal interests over political ideology, and that he could be part of the Walmart lobbying," he said.

"The Centre, which has ordered a judicial probe into the claim of Walmart spending $25 million on lobbying 'for enhanced market access for investment in India,' should also include the name of Heritage Foods," he asserted.

"With a top official of Heritage Foods announcing that they are looking for a strategic business alliance with foreign players, and with TDP president and leaders meeting the Union Finance Minister, it is clear that Heritage Foods has been inclined towards FDI in the retail sector," he said.

"It was N Chandrababu Naidu, who changed the style of governance, shifting from a welfare state to a corporate state, and has been taking pride for his lobbying skills. Though there are some restrictions for Walmart's direct entry into tier-2 cities, no one can stop their tie-up with companies like Heritage Foods, thus working for mutual benefit," he said.

"Heritage Foods, which has a turnover of Rs. 1,400 crore and a network of 72 branches, has been looking for tie-ups with foreign companies, and the TDP leader stands exposed if the probe ordered by the Centre covers his ground as well, since the interests are common," he said.

"Chandrababu Naidu has the history of shutting down the profit-making Chittoor Dairy to benefit his Heritage Foods, and is now lobbying for foreign capital. On the political front, too, his stand has been dubious, as he was speaking against FDI during his padayatra, while his MPs skipped the voting in Rajya Sabha and went scot-free," he said, "This clearly shows that his business interests score over political and people's interests, and this is a fit case for including his name in the probe of the Walmart case." (INN)