Former L-G Najeeb Jung says he was never pushed to work against Kejriwal

The Narendra Modi government never pushed him to act against chief minister Arvind Kejriwal even as Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) indulged in acts of "nepotism, favouritism and cheating". These damning claims were made on Wednesday by former lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung, who also clarified that he had asked the PM to let him "move on" on several occasions, but Modi gave his endorsement only the third time.

In an exclusive interview with India Today TV's Karan Thapar, Jung tried to clear the air over the circumstances of his exit. "Life has its own chapters and phases. It (as L-G) was an interesting phase and now it is over," he said, adding that he had "absolutely no" idea what he was going to do next.

Also read: Arvind Kejriwal a man in a hurry to perform: Najeeb Jung to India Today

ON KEJRIWAL: INEXPERIENCED MAN IN A HURRY

On being asked why he had such a fractious and publicly acrimonious relationship with the Delhi government, Jung squarely blamed the CM. "I think on Mr Kejriwal's side it was exuberance of age, perhaps a bit of inexperience and an approach that you have overwhelming majority and you could do as you please," said Jung.

"He is a young man in a hurry to perform; perhaps with time it will get tempered." The Kejriwal government has been jostling with the Centre for control on land, police and administrative powers over the bureaucracy that is currently in the hands of the L-G who reports to the union home ministry.

Coming to the report submitted by the Shunglu Committee which he appointed, Jung said: "A large number of decisions were taken in the previous one and a half years that were not strictly legal or constitutional."

Kejriwal had alleged that the panel set up by the L-G to examine key decisions of the AAP government since it took power in February 2015 was looking to frame deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia. Explaining the functioning of the body, Jung also clarified that files were sent by the secretaries "where they thought wrong decisions were taken". "It was admittance by the secretaries and ministers that they had acted illegally."

Jung said the CBI was looking at several files under charges of "cheating, nepotism". "These are cases of malfeasance which are punishable under the criminal code of procedures."

NEPOTISM, GROSS FAVOURITISM AND VIOLATES ARTICLE 16: JUNG

Over Kejriwal's wife's relative Nikunj Agrawal, Jung said he was first appointed irregularly as resident doctor at a hospital, then made officer on special duty in the office of health minister Satyendra Jain and then irregularly sent to China and later to IIM-Ahmedabad. "This is irregular. This smacks of nepotism, gross favouritism and violates Article 16 of the Constitution. CBI has registered an FIR," Jung said.

Coming to the case of Soumya Jain, daughter of Satyendra Jain, Jung said, "She is an architect and wrote to her father that she will advise on construction of mohalla clinics; she is appointed. All hell broke loose when some TV channel broke the news and also that she had taken money. Jain said she did not. Later we found that she had but the money had been returned. The statement was incorrect. It was nepotism."

Also read: Najeeb Jung resigns as Delhi Lt Governor; thanks PM Modi for help, Arvind Kejriwal for 'association'