Najeeb Jung’s resignation from the post of Delhi’s lieutenant-Governor on Thursday took the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its Government in Delhi by surprise as it said Jung was Narendra Modi’s man. The ruling party, which has had frequent run-ins with the lt-Governor during his tenure, took a dig at the lG, saying he worked under the “influence” of the Modi dispensation.
However, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal described the resignation of lt Governor Najeeb Jung a “surprise” move while his deputy Manish Sisodia said working with him was a “bitter-sweet” experience, but the AAP Government and Jung did a “good job in Delhi together”.
Kejriwal and Sisodia spoke to Jung over phone and wished him luck for his future. The Delhi Chief Minister said it was “good” working with him.
“Jung’s resignation is a surprise to me. My best wishes in all his future endeavours,” Kejriwal tweeted.
Sisodia said, “(Jung) told me he was feeling tired and wanted to work for education. During the 49-day regime as well, we had bitter-sweet experience with him. In health, education, electricity, we and the l-G worked together.” “Despite all the bitter-sweet experiences, I can say that together with Najeeb Jung we have good job for Delhi,” he tweeted.
On being asked about names of Puducherry’s lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi and former Delhi police chief B S Bassi doing the rounds for the post of the Delhi l-G, Sisodia said it is prerogative of the Centre to depute lt Governor.
“We want cooperation from the Centre. We will fight for the people’s interest if there is no cooperation from the Centre,” he said.
Reacting to Jung’s resignation, senior AAP leader Kumar Vishwas termed Jung’s tenure “disgraceful”. Vishwas alleged the l-G troubled the Delhi Government at the behest of Modi dispensation and took a jibe saying Jung would get a “better posting”.
“The Modi Government promotes its people. We hope, he gets a better posting after this. I am unhappy that his tenure was disgraceful. Now that he has gone, good luck to him. Najeeb Jung’s behaviour was not his. He was under the influence of someone. We hope the next l-G gives priority to issues concerning people and does not work under anyone’s influence,” Vishwas said.
“Good wishes to Najeeb Jung for his future endeavour. God should give some good sense to them who controlled him. Will the war continue even after Jung’s (exit)IJ” Delhi minister Kapil Mishra said.