Half of India’s MPs have criminal records: Singapore PM

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said that while men with lofty ideals and noble values like India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru create democracies, the current political systems is unrecognisable to them due to a change in the texture of politics.

“Most countries are founded and start off on the basis of high ideals and noble values. But more often than not, beyond the founding leaders and the pioneer generation, over decades and generations, gradually things change,” Lee said while delivering a speech in Singapore parliament on Thursday on the functioning of democracies.

In his speech, the Singaporean PM had first praised the founding fathers of Israel and India for being “exceptional individuals” who had given a direction to the young nations.

“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.”

Prime Minister Lee then narrated that in both Israel and India, the vision of the first leaders has got lost.

“Many political systems today would be quite unrecognisable to their founding leaders.

“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.

“While 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.”