I took the decision earlier, PM asked me to continue: Najeeb Jung

New Delhi: Najeeb Jung, who had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday last, said that he had asked to quit twice before, but PM Modi urged him to carry on. The 66-year-old, Jung said that he insisted to quit on personal grounds.

"There is no politics behind it. This was a decision I took earlier," said Jung.

"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 stated further.

What else Jung said?

• I have a mother who is 95 and need to give her time and I need to give time to kids, grandkids. I can't take leave in this job.
• A running feud with the Aam Aadmi Party government and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal virtually defined Mr Jung's three years in office.
• I offered to resign when the Narendra Modi government came to power in May 2014, months before Kejriwal's party won the Delhi election.

"After three and a half years, I urged the PM again on Tuesday that I would like to resign on personal grounds but he said carry on," said Jung.

His resignation came as a surprise for many as nobody reportedly had the indication of him contemplating the decision. He has claimed that he wants to return to his first love, academics.

Jung’s constant battle with the Delhi government-led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been the highlight of his two-year in the office.