Najeeb Jung’s tenure marked by grace, poise
Najeeb Jung's resignation as lieutenant Governor of Delhi has triggered speculations ranging from the informed to the absurd. The Congress smells the rat of an ‘understanding' between the Union Government and the Aam Aadmi Party which rules Delhi. This is so because the AAP regime and Jung had been at loggerheads on a variety of issues. But the Congress does not elaborate on why such an understanding was needed in the first place. Both the AAP and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union Government have been at odds as much as Jung and the Delhi Government had been. Moreover, neither the BJP nor the AAP stands to gain anything from an understanding to the extent that a lt Governor should be nudged to vacate his post. In any case, there is nothing to suggest that Jung quit under pressure, though the suddenness of his resignation has naturally given rise to all sorts of possibilities. Given the situation, the Congress's theory need not be taken seriously. At the moment, it's best to respect Jung's decision and wish him all the best in any endeavour that he undertakes. He has already indicated a return to academics, and the world of academia will be richer for that. Throughout his tenure, and especially after the AAP Government led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took charge, Najeeb Jung had conducted himself with poise, always sticking to the rule book and never stooping low to attack those who routinely slandered him, questioned his integrity and taunted him for being the Centre's ‘stooge'. His responses were dignified and within the parameters of the Constitution. When he threw the rule book at the AAP Government over the constitutional authority of the lt Governor vis-à-vis Delhi's elected Government, he was reviled for deliberately placing obstacles in the Government's way. In this campaign, the AAP Government found support from some other parties and their leaders who knew better but backed Kejriwal because of their anathema for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Government. Eventually, Jung was vindicated when the Delhi High Court, at whose doors the dispute over the constitutional authority had landed, ruled unambiguously that the lt Governor did have the rights he had been exercising and that the Constitution did not provide for the sort of absolute authority to the Delhi regime, which Governments of full-fledged States enjoy. While the issue is before the Supreme Court now, the High Court ruling took the sting out of the attack from his opponents. One, nevertheless, hopes that the two sides had got along better. let’s hope that the new incumbent and the Delhi regime work alongside in a more coordinated manner.
It's not that Najeeb Jung, as lt Governor, engaged in a 24x7 battle with the Delhi Government. Both Chief Minister Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia have praised his contribution in working alongside the elected regime in areas of health and education. Both also have in the past put it on record that they shared a good personal rapport with Jung. It's just that politics came in the way and soured relations. But one must let that be. Jung has moved on, and so should the AAP. There is no need to anymore dig up ‘sour’ memories; let the ‘sweet' ones dominate.