The Delhi High Court verdict must have made things “clear” to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, said lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung on Friday, while asserting that he was in the process of overturning “illegal decisions” taken by the AAP Government.
Jung rubbished Kejriwal’s oft-repeated claim that he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have tried to stop the AAP’s governance initiatives. Why will the Prime Minister do so when he looks after the entire countryIJ Jung asked. The l-G was speaking on ‘Complexities of Governance’ at an event organised by former BJP MlA Vijay Jolly.
“The CM has gone on record asking why the value of an electors vote in Delhi will be half when the AAP Government has won a stupendous majority. But that is his interpretation. Which hopefully must be clear to him now. But unfortunately illegal decisions were taken during without my knowledge. Then I wrote to the officials to set things right after the HC verdict. I have received around 250 files till date. Now that the court has drawn the line, they have sent the files. I am working with the hope that things will improve,” Jung said.
Underlining the importance of the Constitution, Jung said it does not allow any person in position to “cut corners” and the liberty or permission to interpret “as we think is correct”. Jung said in cases where anyone feels the need for a change, one has to go through the right forum and failing to do so would tantamount to taking an “exceptionally dangerous route” that lead to “dictatorships”.
“Go back to Parliament to change it. Or if there is an Act or law that which you find is outdated then you have to again change the law but while it is there I do not have any authority to challenge it,” Jung said.
He said such options can also be availed where “it is allowed”. Also, the l-G said it was “unfortunate” that an impression was created that Modi and him put spanners in the AAP Government’s functioning. “Why would the PM who looks after the whole country do thatIJ I have not stopped any legitimate initiative till date. But I advised in a few cases which I felt were against a certain law or the constitution. Despite that it was said I tried to put spanners. I did not go to court, the Government did. And the court clearly spelt out that the l-G is the representative of the President,” he said.