HC verdict not a defeat or victory for anyone: Najeeb Jung

NEW DELHI: Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung said he doesn’t have any animosity towards Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. However, “Kejriwal may have animosity (towards me),” Jung said, speaking to reporters hours after the Delhi High Court’s verdict that the lieutenant governor was the administrative head of the National Capital Territory.

At a rare press conference at his secretariat, Jung, however, tried to maintain a conciliatory tone, as he said his office has ‘no dispute with anyone on regular matters’.

On the court verdict, Jung said: “It is not a victory for anybody — neither Najeeb Jung nor Arvind Kejriwal have any existence. This is about the validity of the Constitution. It is not that we will share laddoo with each other and get very happy. There are some things which the high court has clarified and, in this context, we will work in the future.”

He also detailed previous observations made by government committees on the question of statehood for Delhi, but did not directly comment about whether he supports or oppose the demand for statehood. On his part, Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said: “We respectfully disagree with the high court verdict. We will appeal against it in the Supreme Court.”