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Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said that “almost half” of the parliamentarians in India's Lok Sabha — the lower house of parliament — have criminal charges against them.

“Nehru's India has become one where … almost half the MPs in the Lok Sabha have criminal charges pending against them, including charges of rape and murder,” Lee said.

Loong made the comment in Singapore's parliament on Wednesday during a debate about accusations of lying levelled at a member of the opposition.

Read more: India objects to Singapore PM's remarks about 'criminal' MPs

He did add, however, that many of the charges were politically motivated.

Indian media reported that Singapore's ambassador had been summoned to the foreign ministry to explain.

The Indian ministry declined to comment but an official there criticised what the Singapore leader said.

"The remarks by the prime minister of Singapore were uncalled for," said the official, who declined to be identified.

"We have taken up the matter with the Singaporean side."

Lee's office said it had nothing to add.

Also read: Indian tax authorities search premises of China's Huawei

India and Singapore are both former British colonies and have been close allies for decades.

India's main opposition Congress party, led by Nehru's great-grandson, Rahul Gandhi, took the opportunity to extol its old leader and have a dig at its rivals.

"Nehru's magnanimity continues to inspire world leaders even today," Congress said in a statement on Twitter.

"Pity the ones here at home who fail to have the vision to understand the exceptional leader he was."

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