Speaking about the Delhi Government’s odd-even vehicle rationing scheme to curb pollution, lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung said that the first phase of the scheme made no impact on pollution but reduced congestion from roads in the national capital. In an interview to India Today TV’s Karan Thapar, lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung was responding to a query pertaining to second phase of even-odd scheme which is going to be started from April 15. “There are two aspects of even-odd scheme. I don’t think it reduces pollution but it certainly impacted traffic,” said Jung.
He also disapproved the idea of making odd-even as a permanent feature in Delhi. “Running odd-even ad infinitum would put a huge strain on the police as well as raise security problems. Even-odd strains public-police relations. I did not have courage to impose even-odd but he (Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal) has courage,” said Jung adding that he was not consulted by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for making it permanent feature.
The lieutenant Governor spoke at length on the issue pertaining to his relationship with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, controversy pertaining to Shakuntala Gamlin, comments made by the Chief Minister comparing lieutenant Governor to a dog, the behaviour of the police on the day when JNU student union president Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested, shoes and ink hurled at Kejriwal, fate of 21 AAP MlAs who have been made parliamentary secretaries and controversy on Bharat Mata Ki Jai.
Reacting on the ongoing controversy on 21 AAP MlAs appointed Parliamentary Secretaries, the lieutenant Governor said that under the Delhi laws and statutes a Parliamentary Secretary is specifically deemed to be an office of profit.
On his relationship with Kejriwal, the lieutenant Governor said clashes between the lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister of Delhi were inevitable and arise out of their different oaths of office, powers and roles.”Waqt ane pe tujhe bata dengey aye aasman, hum abhi se kya btayein kya teri mehfil mein hain,” Jung quoted poet Bismil while responding to Kejriwal’s remark calling him an agent of the BJP.
Jung said Arvind Kejriwal calling him a dog was “naive” and that he has forgiven the Delhi CM. “But Arvind Kejriwal never apologised for calling me a dog,” Jung said adding that he would never use kind of languages Kejriwal uses.
Amid a raging debate over the slogan Bharat Mata Ki Jai, Jung has said that he has no problem chanting the words and added that there is a difference between worshipping the God and the country.
Jung also described the controversy surrounding the slogan as manufactured.
On the controversy over appointment of acting Chief Secretary Shakuntal Gamlin, the lieutenant Governor said that Gamlin was the most senior officer in the list forwarded by the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister. later they added a new name who has not joined the Delhi Government till date saying that he should be made acting Chief Secretary.