In a conversation with CNN-News18’s Rupashree Nanda, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung held the Arvind Kejriwal-led government responsible for the worsening pollution in the city but said “this is not the time to ask questions whether it is the Delhi government or whether it is the Lieutenant Governor”.
Post the Delhi High Court judgment, who do you think is responsible for the administration of Delhi? Is it the Lieutenant Governor or the Chief Minister?
The Delhi government runs these things. This is a transferred subject. So, obviously it is the Delhi government. But this is not the time to ask questions whether it is the Delhi government or whether it is the Lieutenant Governor. We are all in this together. We are all making concerted efforts.
Your office took a lot of decisions yesterday. The chief minister, the deputy chief minister, many others attended the meeting. It was a comprehensive meeting, a lot of decisions were taken. Do you think this meeting could have been done earlier? Could you have pre-empted what we saw in Delhi over the past week?
No. I don't think I could have pre-empted. The state government has been active and they have been active actually for three weeks before Diwali. Unfortunately, our efforts did not work well enough. Diwali crackers literally exploded onto Delhi. Nature did not help because a lot of winds were coming from Punjab and Haryana. Consequently, the pollution just settled in. What the Delhi government was trying did not quite work out which required that certain drastic measures be taken, which were taken.
You announced the de-registration of diesel vehicle, closure of polluting industries? Any timeline for this?
The 15-year old (diesel vehicle ban ) is for good. Any polluting industry in non-industrial areas will be shut.
What about livelihood issues (on account of polluting industries shutting down)?
We will have to think about that.
About missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmed - Delhi Police did not question the accused for 22 days. You saw Najeeb's mother, how distraught she is, how she was handled by the Delhi Police. What message do you have for Delhi Police and what message would you have for Najeeb's mother?
Delhi Police have been trying very hard to find the boy. We have sent out 200 teams all over. The reward has been enhanced. Everywhere possible, that was advisable after contacting his friends, his teachers, his professors, his old school mates, we have been trying. Unfortunately, we could not find him. About interrogating people or speaking to people I think that is best left to the police. They will decide the time when to speak to whom. So I would not comment on that. I completely understand the sorrow that his mother has. I spent a long time with her today. She will be in touch with me. We will try our best to find the boy.
The manner in which Delhi Police handled his mother, dragging and detained her...
That is not correct. That is not correct. I don't think you should be asking this at all. Law and order is handled on the spot. I am not privy to exactly what happened. I would not want to comment on this.
You are saying that you are doing your best to find the boy. There is hope for the missing boy?
Of course, there is hope. How can you even ask that question? Of course there is hope, of course we are trying our best.
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