Guwahati: The chief minister of Himachal Pradesh Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu declared on Monday that the state would reinstate the plaque Sonia Gandhi placed on the Atal Tunnel Rohtang’s foundation stone.
The repair of the plaque stating that the Congress leader lay the cornerstone for the Atal Tunnel has become a contentious topic.
CM Sukhu stated that the government would bring up the issue of repairing the Atal Tunnel’s foundation stone plaque with the relevant authority. On June 28, 2010, the leader lay it while serving as the chairperson of the National Advisory Council.
Sukhu, in an official statement, said the plaque has been “missing”, which is an “insult to democracy”.
“The plaque of the foundation stone was missing which was an insult to democracy and must be restored at the earliest. The 9.02- kilometre tunnel was built by the Border Roads Organisation to connect the landlocked Lahaul-Spiti district,” he said.
When the party was in opposition, the Congress brought up the restoration of the missing plaque with the relevant authority.
Prime Minister Narendra officially opened the tunnel, sparking a political credit dispute on October 3, 2020.
The project was credited to both parties.
Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee laid the cornerstone for the approach road in 2002 and after his passing the tunnel bears his name.