I am not blaming Arvind Kejriwal, priorities of this government are different: Najeeb Jung

“I defer to the elected government in 99% of the cases that come to me. Only in 1% of the cases we might disagree,” Najeeb Jung, Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) said faced with questions on the constant reports of tussle between Delhi's two power centres, LG office and the chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s office.
Responding to questions at the inaugural session of the Times Lit Fest in Delhi on Saturday, Jung, a renowned academic, tackled queries on poor roads, pollution, development work in Delhi.“I am not blaming Arvind Kejriwal. He tried but priorities of this government are different...like quality of education and mohalla clinics. Roads have taken a beating. It is not our job to decide what government’s priorities should be,” he said.
Earlier introducing the event festival, director Sagarika Ghosh said, “We believe as we look back at 70 years we can take lessons from history to fashion a new future for ourselves.” Jung, who earlier gave the keynote address on the theme of “India@70: Change Begins Here”, ruled out the need for one power centre in the capital. “The Constitution is absolutely clear as far as article 39(A) is concerned. Delhi is and was intended to be a union territory after exhaustive debate not only in public but also in Parliament,” he said.
He added,"There are Constitutional restrictions on union territories and while I would say you probably have a good point of view (about having one autonomous head) but I'm not sure from the Constitutional aspect if it can be implemented effectively throughout the country.”
The LG, who has often been under fire from the AAP-led Delhi government for “blocking” development work, dismissed reports of conflict. “Delhi has worked for 25 years without a problem. There was a newly elected government with a lot of expectations from them. There was a level of excitement and exuberance of youth was high. I am seeing a smoothening of things now,” he said.
Downplaying the constant friction between Kejriwal and himself, Jung said, “My personal rapport is very good. I find him a gentleman. I have never had an altercation with him though we have disagreed violently on file.” The statement was met with laughter from the audience prompting festival director Sagarika Ghosh who was moderating the conversation to say, "Mr Jung and Mr Kejriwal will the twain meet?”
Describing the two Constitutional roles, Jung said, “Chief ministers are sworn to provide the government, governors are sworn to protect the government. There is no delay when it comes to me. The question I ask myself: Am I being the protector of the written word of the Constitution? If your interpretation is different, it's your problem. I can read out the Constitution and say this is what it says. I am often told this is what it says but this is what it “ought to say.”
So is the citizen squeezed in between the multiplicity of agencies? “There is no multiplicity. DDA, Delhi police have clear roles. Conflict comes in minds if you have a different understanding of the Constitution than what the Constitution says. The conflict that came up in the last one and a half year was clarified by the high court,” the LG said. Earlier, Jung elaborated on the “paratha diplomacy” he had deployed to persuade Kejriwal to break his fast in January 2014 charming the thickly-packed hall with his candid responses and humour. The morning began on a somber note with 2 minute silence for the victim’s of 26/11 tragedy.