India’s Ministry of External Affairs calls out PM Lee for saying ‘almost half of its MPs have criminal charges pending against them’

New Delhi – India’s Ministry of External Affairs conveyed to Singapore’s  High Commissioner Simon Wong on Friday that recent “remarks by the Prime Minister of Singapore (about India) were uncalled for”.

It also conveyed India’s official displeasure over PM Lee Hsien Loong’s statement in Parliament that “almost half the MPs in the Lok Sabha have criminal charges pending against them”.

In a 40-minute speech during Tuesday’s debate on the Committee of Privileges’ report on the Raeesah Khan saga, PM Lee had said: “Things start off with passionate intensity. The leaders, who fought for and won independence, are often exceptional individuals of great courage, immense culture, and outstanding ability. They came through the crucible of fire and emerged as leaders of men and nations. They are the David Ben-Gurions, the Jawaharlal Nehrus, and we have our own too”.

Mr David Ben-Gurion led the struggle to found the State of Israel and was its very first prime minister of Israel. Mr Jawaharlal Nehru led India to independence and became India’s first prime minister.

PM Lee continued: “Nehru’s India has become one where, according to media reports, almost half the MPs in the Lok Sabha have criminal charges pending against them, including charges of rape and murder. Though it is also said that many of these allegations are politically motivated”.

According to an article in The Economic Times, India’s MEA was surprised at Mr Lee’s comments coming as they did from a close strategic partner and leader whose family shares close ties with India for decades.

Singapore, it added, is among the countries that hardly refers to the internal matters of other countries and has a nuanced approach in geopolitics.

The other country that might take offence to PM Lee’s remarks  is Israel.

PM Lee had also mentioned that “Ben-Gurion’s Israel has morphed into one which can barely form a government, despite four general elections in two years. Meanwhile, a stream of senior politicians and officials in Israel face a litany of criminal charges, some have gone to jail”. /TISG