In Nehru's India today, more than 40% Lok Sabha MPs have a criminal record. But why is the PM of Singapore talking about Nehru and this number?
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00:00Many political systems today would be quite unrecognisable to their founding leaders.
00:05Nehru's India has become one where, according to media reports,
00:09almost half the MPs in the Lok Sabha have criminal charges pending against them.
00:30MPs must be people with integrity at their core, who speak and act in an upright manner,
00:45always putting duty before self, and country before party.
00:52Most countries are founded and start off on the basis of high ideals and noble values.
00:59But more often than not, beyond the founding leaders and the pioneer generation,
01:04over decades and generations, gradually things change.
01:11Things start off with passionate intensity.
01:14The leaders who fought for and won independence are often exceptional individuals of great courage,
01:20immense culture and outstanding ability.
01:26They came through the crucible of fire and emerged as leaders of men and nations.
01:33They are the David Ben-Gurions, the Jawaharlal Nehrus, and we have our own too.
01:39They start out as healthy democracies, with idealism and zeal.
01:44But over time, the tone of the society changes.
01:48All too easily, a slip here, a blind eye there, a fudge, a trim, and gradually things go downhill.
01:59The texture of politics changes. Respect for politicians declines.
02:06After a while, the electorate comes to think, this is the norm and you cannot expect better.
02:13And so, standards get debased, trust is eroded, and the country declines further.
02:20Many political systems today would be quite unrecognisable to their founding leaders.
02:26Ben-Gurion's Israel has morphed into one which can barely form a government,
02:32despite four General Elections in two years.
02:37Meanwhile, a stream of senior politicians and officials in Israel face a litany of criminal charges.
02:45Some have gone to jail.
02:48While Nehru's India has become one where, according to media reports,
02:53almost half the MPs in the Lok Sabha have criminal charges pending against them,
02:58including charges of rape and murder.
03:02Though it is also said that many of these allegations are politically motivated.
03:08What is to prevent Singapore from going down the same road?
03:13Nothing.