Atal Tunnel stone laid by Sonia safe with construction firm: Himachal Police

Tribune News Service

Mandi, October 14

After the Congress expressed resentment, the Kullu police have found the foundation stone of the Atal Tunnel that Sonia Gandhi had laid during the UPA government at the Centre on June 28, 2010, at the south portal of the tunnel at Dhundi, near Manali.

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Kullu SP Gaurav Singh said that an FIR was registered at Keylong police station in Lahaul and Spiti district on the complaint of District Congress Committee president Gyalchhan stating that the foundation stone of the Atal Tunnel had gone missing. Gyalchhan alleged in the complaint that some miscreants had removed the foundation stone. The case was referred to the Kullu police. During investigation, it was found that the foundation stone was safe with the construction company at its mechanical workshop near Manali.

Since the inauguration of the Atal Tunnel by Prime Minister Narendra Modi early this month, Congress and BJP leaders have been at loggerheads to take the credit for it. The Congress leaders had threatened to organise a massive protest against the state government if it failed to find the foundation stone.

Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Kuldeep Rathore wrote a letter to Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur asking him to take action in this regard or get ready to face a statewide protest. The Congress leaders alleged that it was a deliberate attempt of the government to get political mileage out of the tunnel by removing the foundation stone laid by Sonia Gandhi.

The Congress is demanding the re-installation of the foundation stone of the tunnel along with the plaque. However, BRO officials said that the foundation stone would be installed as per the directions of the higher authorities.