Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has claimed that "almost half" members of India's Lok Sabha are facing criminal charges, while his ambassador to New Delhi has been asked for clarification.
According to Reuters, Lee Hussein Loong said that "Nehru's India has become such that almost half of the members of the Lok Sabha are charged with crimes including rape and murder".
Lee Hsien Loong made the remarks while referring to Indian MPs during a debate on allegations against an opposition member in the Singapore Parliament.
According to a report in the Street Times, the Prime Minister of Singapore spoke to the members of the Assembly about the need for a democratic system based on good values and traditions, the importance of public confidence in the government and other things.
"Most countries were founded and started with great moral values and great values, but then things changed gradually after decades and generations beyond the founding leaders and the generation that laid the foundations," he said.
"Things started with full intensity, the leadership that fought and won for independence were individuals with great courage and extraordinary ability," he said.
Referring to historical figures, he said, "They went through the furnace and led the people and the nation. They were David Ben-Gurion, Jawaharlal Nehru and we have our own leaders."
He cited the example of Israel and India, but said that generations after them would continue to struggle to maintain that momentum.
The Prime Minister of Singapore said that "Ben-Gurion's Israel has changed so much that despite four elections in two years, hardly a single government can be formed."
He said senior politicians and officials in Israel were facing criminal charges and some of them had been jailed.
"On the other hand, Nehru's India has become such that, according to media reports, criminal charges are pending against almost half of the members of the Lok Sabha, including rape and murder," said Lee Hsien Loong.
However, many of the allegations are politically motivated, he said.
Later, Singapore's ambassador to India was summoned and asked to explain the PM's statement.
