LG using language of Viceroy, Churchill: Delhi minister

Health Minister Satyendar Jain opposed Lt Governor Najeeb Jung's reported order to senior officials in the Delhi government to send to him files that needed his signature.

New Delhi: Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Tuesday accused Lt Governor Najeeb Jung of "speaking the language of the Viceroy and Churchill" by suggesting that the Delhi Assembly can be scrapped.

Jain, a confidant of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, also opposed the Lt Governor`s reported order to senior officials in the Delhi government to send to him files that needed his signature.

"We have always known how much he (Jung) believes in democracy," Jain told the media, referring to his purported comments. "He has never fought any election, yet he has reached the top. It is but natural he will say this."

Jung reportedly told an interviewer that he was willing to consider a suggestion to do away with the Delhi legislative assembly in the wake of the Delhi High Court`s decision to give the Lt Governor the supreme say in matters of administration in the national capital.

"The (British) Viceroy also used to say that India cannot be given complete independence," Jain said. "Winston Churchill used to say Indians cannot govern themselves.

"The Lt Governor is speaking the language of the Viceroy and Churchill."

Referring to an order reportedly issued by the Lt Governor to the heads of departments in Delhi that files be directly sent to him, Jain said this was "unconstitutional".

"In no way can the LG communicate directly with any officer. We will certainly abide by the (Delhi High) Court order. And the LG has the right to seek any file."

"But the files have to go through proper channels. He cannot order for any file directly and take any decision on his own," Jain said.