A day after tendering a surprise resignation as Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor, Najeeb Jung today called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) around 11.30 AM and spent a little over an hour with the PM.
As per sources, it was a courtesy meeting. Yesterday, in his brief resignation statement, Jung had thanked PM Modi for his help and cooperation.
Jung also cornered the speculation that he quit as pressure was mounting on him. “There is no politics behind his decision and he wanted to quit earlier as well,” Jung was quoted as saying by NDTV.
"I had offered to resign as I had been appointed by the previous UPA government, but the PM asked me to carry on. After three years, I requested the PM to relieve me but he asked me to carry on," he said.
"After three and a half years, I requested the PM again on Tuesday that I would like to resign on personal grounds."
Jung also said that he would like to write a book on his tenure as LG.
Over the last two years, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has time and again taken on Jung over his perceived closeness to PM Modi.
Earlier in the day, Kejriwal had an hour-long meeting with Jung over breakfast during which the latter reminisced their nearly two-year-long association in governing the city besides discussing other issues.
The Delhi Chief Minister said he was invited by the Lt Governor for the breakfast meeting that came a day after Jung's sudden resignation from the post.
Sources said Jung and Kejriwal spoke about the bitter-sweet times and spent some light moments.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia also called on Jung. Asked why Jung quit, Kejriwal said, "He resigned due to personal reasons."
Though publicly Kejriwal had made stinging attacks on Jung on many occasions, both of them are known to share a cordial relationship at personal level.
Asked about his meeting with Jung, Sisodia said, "We had a very good chat. He shared memories of the last two years and also of his days as a bureaucrat. He said that he was mulling quitting over the last one year.
"He wants to spend time with his family and focus on academics. He said that he could not quit due to things like chikungunya (outbreak in the city)."
Sisodia said he shared a "good rapport" with Jung and thanked him for his cooperation especially in areas of education.
"We will work for the people if Delhi irrespective of circumstances be that easy or tough."
On who could be next LG of Delhi, the Deputy Chief Minister said many names are doing the rounds but nothing official has come up.
Sources close to Jung had said yesterday his resignation has nothing to do with his acrimonious relationship with the AAP government over matters of jurisdiction and he was contemplating to quit for last few months.
The Chief Minister was in Ranchi yesterday when the news of Jung's resignation broke.
