Jammu, Feb 10: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday clarified that the ropeway project for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine was approved by the Lieutenant Governor in 2024 and not by the Cabinet or the Administrative Council.
Addressing the Legislative Assembly, the Chief Minister said he had personally examined the official records related to the project.
“One member claimed that the Cabinet had approved the ropeway project. I checked the records and found that it was neither approved by the Cabinet nor a decision of the Administrative Council,” Omar Abdullah said.
Highlighting the Lieutenant Governor’s role, he informed the House that the project was approved by the LG in September 2024, prior to the formation of the elected government.
Omar said there was an attempt to mislead both the House and the public on the issue. “In an emotional moment, the member had yesterday even threatened to resign,” he added.
The Chief Minister’s remarks came a day after BJP MLA from the Mata Vaishno Devi constituency, Baldev Raj Sharma, claimed in the Assembly that the Cabinet had cleared the project and said he would resign if his claim was proven incorrect. (Agencies)
