What do you do when a foreign leader is protecting his own country’s interests and you are losing out in the process? Well, you try to ridicule him. You try to tarnish the very image of his administration and this is exactly what Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has done.
The Singaporean Prime Minister was found complaining about a decline in India’s democratic polity from “Nehru’s India”. The left-liberal ecosystem soon claimed that Lee was genuinely interested in India’s democratic system. But as it turns out he is invoking Nehru only because Prime Minister Modi gave him a $16 billion jolt by banning a gaming app ‘Free Fire’.
The last batch of Chinese Apps that India banned also featured a Singaporean app (with significant Chinese investments). It was a game called ‘Free Fire’. The company lost $16 Billion immediately.
Now the Singaporean PM is invoking Nehru.
Amusing.
— Atul Kumar Mishra (@TheAtulMishra) February 17, 2022
Singapore’s Prime Minister invokes Nehru
In some rather unusual remarks, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that almost half of Lok Sabha MPs in India have criminal charges pending against them.
In his 40-minute speech, Lee 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.”
The Singaporean PM added, “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.”
MEA summons Singaporean envoy
Lee’s remarks were no small development. They threaten to destabilise the strategic relationship between India and Singapore.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Singapore’s High Commissioner Simon Wong and conveyed its displeasure.
So, why did Lee go as far as creating an awkward diplomatic moment with a key ally? I mean India and Singapore share common interests in the Indo-Pacific and it doesn’t make any sense if the two start trading barbs with each other.
Well, this is where the $16 billion jolts come into the picture.
PM Modi’s $16 billion jolts that compelled Lee to invoke Nehru
Recently, India banned 54 Chinese apps, amidst deteriorating Sino-India ties. The ban was announced due to security concerns about those apps in New Delhi.
One of the banned apps is ‘Free Fire’. It is a Singaporean app with significant Chinese investments. For India however, even a trace of Chinese presence is a big turn off. So, this app came in the middle of the crossfire between India and China.
And when a huge internet market like India bans an app, the consequences are generally severe. The ‘Free Fire’ ban too has led to the Sea Group losing $16 billion immediately.
Read more: India made a Singaporean company bleed $16 billion in a day because it had a Chinese connection
Sea Group, a Singaporean company that owns ‘Free Fire’ is now worried about a spillover effect. It fears more such bans by India on its other services with Chinese investments. On the other hand, investors too are spooked and could pull their money out of the Singaporean company.
So, what could the Singaporean Prime Minister do? Complaining about Modi’s India without any rhyme and reason was his last option. This is Modi’s India after all and it doesn’t tolerate a Singaporean business with Chinese investment.
Read more: Countries like Singapore and the UAE are poaching Indian startups to fill their own coffers
Singapore doesn’t seem to have engaged with such an Indian government in the past. So, we are not surprised if the Singaporean PM finds things to be going wrong with the Indian democracy.