8 theories behind Najeeb Jung's resignation
Najeeb Jung's resignation as Delhi's lieutenant-governor, with nearly 18 months of his tenure left, has come as a bolt from the blue for Delhi’s political circle. Especially, when it was thought that despite being an appointee of the UPA government, he had earned the confidence of the present dispensation.
Soon after Jung resigned from his post, rumour mills started churning out various theories behind his sudden decision to quit.
Let’s take a look:
1. Wants to go back to academics
Though Najeeb Jung offered no reason for his resignation, his office stated that he would be returning to “his first love, which is, academics”.
After Jung's resignation, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal spoke to him and asked why the L-G chose to resign. Jung, however, said that the reasons behind his resignation were personal. So, this seems to be the official reason for his exit.
2. Nothing in the Shunglu Committee report
On November 27, the three-member Shunglu Committee, which was appointed by Jung for scrutinising over 400 files related to alleged administrative lapses in the Kejriwal government’s decisions. Sources in the Delhi government have linked Jung’s exit to “not being able to find anything against the AAP government”.
3. Supreme Court’s observation
On December 14, while listing for final disposal the appeal of the AAP government against a Delhi High Court verdict which had held that the L-G was the administrative head of the capital, the Supreme Court said Delhi government should have some powers, otherwise it cannot function.
A bench of justices AK Sikri and AM Sapre said that the “elected government in Delhi should have some powers, otherwise it cannot function. The matter needs to be decided fast".
Many say that Jung might have resigned to pre-empt any adverse remark against him by the apex court. Any such remark against him could mar his vice-presidential candidature, which many say he is eyeing.
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| Najeeb Jung's resignation as Delhi L-G, with nearly 18 months of his tenure left, has come as a bolt from the blue. (PTI photo) |
4. DCW appointment
The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief, Swati Maliwal, tried to connect Jung's resignation to the blow that was meted out to him by the Delhi High Court. On December 21, the court had sent a notice to the L-G asking as to why for a year no meeting was convened by him over women's security.
Double win for DCW. Delhi women freed from Jung tyranny. HC orderd release of 2 month DCW salary. Hope new LG will work toward women safety.
— Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) December 22, 2016
Black chapter for women in Delhi over. Jung ji failed as LG. 6 rapes daily, didnt hold single meet on women safety, brutally attacked DCW.
— Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) December 22, 2016
On December 22, Delhi’s administrative head had to face a major disappointment after his plea was turned down by the court ordering the release of salaries of the contractual workers of DCW.
5. Ajay Maken's conspiracy theory
Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken demanded that the Modi government should explain the "unceremonious exit" of the Delhi L-G. He further alleged that the move could mean a "tacit understanding" between the Centre and the state government to replace him.
But it seems Maken himself has punctured his theory by saying that "perhaps Jung would be replaced with an RSS functionary". Is he suggesting that Arvind Kejriwal has agreed to an RSS functionary as Delhi's L-G?
6. Wasn't compliant enough
Another one of Maken's theory is that Jung was made to resign as the Modi government felt that he was not serving their interests. To substantiate his point, he recalled the criticism of Jung by BJP MP Subramanian Swamy. In August, Swamy said that "Najeeb Jung is a 420 like Kejriwal".
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| Photo: Screengrab/Twitter. |
7. War weariness
In one news report, a home ministry official attributed Jung’s decision of resignation to “war weariness”. He was tired of the endless feud with the AAP government and couldn’t take it anymore, the offical said. His tenure was marked by a continuous standoff with the Kejriwal-led Delhi government over jurisdictional issues.
8. Delhi BJP leaders were not happy
Reports say that five of the seven BJP MPs from Delhi were unhappy with Najeeb Jung. One of them — BJP MP from northwest Delhi, Udit Raj — maintaining that Delhi would be served better with another lieutenant-governor.
In September, Raj called Jung a “super king” who hardly had time for Delhi’s MPs. “Jung is hardly available to MPs,” he had said.