Jung meets Modi, denies pressure behind exit

A day after resigning, Lt Governor of Delhi Najeeb Jung met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, and denied that he was under any pressure to quit.

He is likely to continue in the post for a few days till the Centre names a successor. After the meeting, Jung said there was no politics behind his resignation.

“I had offered to resign as I had been appointed by the UPA government, but the prime minister asked me to carry on. After three years, I requested the prime minister to relieve me, but he asked me to carry on,” he told reporters.

“After three and a half years, I told the prime minister again on Tuesday that I would like to resign on personal grounds,” Jung added.

Earlier in the day, Jung had an hour-long breakfast meeting with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and also met Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

“I was invited for breakfast,” said Kejriwal, adding that Jung has stuck to his stand that he quit due to personal reasons.

Sources in Raj Niwas said there was an indication from the Home Ministry that Jung’s resignation was yet to be forwarded to President Pranab Mukherjee, who is not in New Delhi.

In another development, Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi proceeded on leave, raising doubts if it was linked to the Jung episode.

Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken claimed that Jung quit as he was prevented from making public the Shunglu Committee report, which would have been damaging for the Aam Aadmi Party ahead of the Assembly elections in Punjab and Goa.

“There was pressure on Jung, which led to his acrimonious exit. The BJP is trying to save the AAP by keeping the Shunglu Committee report under wraps,” Maken said. The committee submitted its report earlier this month and Jung was seized of the matter.

Sources said the report found major discrepancy in the role of bureaucrats who had allowed ministers in the AAP government to violate the provisions of the GNCTD Act, which sets the rules for administering Delhi.

Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari hinted that Kejriwal’s autocratic style of functioning was the reason behind Jung’s decision to resign. “There is still time for Kejriwal to change his ways.

No LG will allow him to violate the provisions of the Constitution. If Kejriwal does not change, the people will teach the AAP a lesson,” said Tiwari.