New Delhi, November 10 (ANI): Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Tuesday that India has been engaging lobbying firms in Washington, D.C., since 1948, emphasizing that hiring such firms is a normal practice in the United States for diplomatic missions and other entities seeking to engage with the U.S. administration, Congress and other stakeholders.
Addressing a biweekly media briefing, Jaiswal said public filing records provide ample examples of U.S. lobbyists engaging with administration officials. He added that such activities are carried out in accordance with applicable U.S. laws, including the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
“FARA filings, it is a normal practice in the U.S. for diplomatic missions and other entities to hire lobbying firms for their engagement with the U.S. administration, U.S. Congress and other stakeholders. Past filing records provide ample examples of U.S. lobbyists in touch with administration officials. Such activities are undertaken under the applicable laws of the U.S., including FARA. India has been engaging lobbying firms in D.C. since 1948,” Jaiswal said.
The spokesperson’s remarks came amid questions surrounding India’s engagement with lobbying firms in the United States and disclosures made under the American legislation governing the registration of foreign agents.
The MEA had also addressed the issue through its official FactCheck account on November 7, stating that it was normal practice in the United States for embassies and other entities to hire lobbying firms. The ministry reiterated that the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C., had been engaging such firms since 1948 and that details of these arrangements were available in the public domain.
In the same clarification, the MEA referred to a filing by Mercury Public Affairs LLC, stating that the document clearly indicated that the firm’s role was limited to disseminating a post on X.
The ministry’s clarification sought to address claims circulating on social media concerning the relationship between lobbying activities and a post by U.S. President Donald Trump about Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Enacted in 1938, FARA requires certain agents of foreign principals engaged in political activities or other activities specified under the legislation to periodically disclose their relationship with the foreign principal, along with information about their activities, receipts and disbursements.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the purpose of these disclosures is to provide transparency and allow the government and the American public to assess the activities of individuals and organizations acting on behalf of foreign principals.
The U.S. Department of Justice’s National Security Division administers the Act and makes registration statements and other relevant documents available through its public filing database.
Jaiswal’s remarks underscore India’s position that engaging lobbying firms in Washington is a longstanding diplomatic practice and that such arrangements are undertaken within the applicable legal framework in the United States. (ANI)
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