Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 13: Himachal Pradesh Congress has threatened to launch a protest against the reported removal of the inaugural plaque laid by Sonia Gandhi at the recently inaugurated Atal Tunnel in the state.

Earlier on October 3, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the all-weather Atal Tunnel across the Rohtang Pass.

However, after the plaque allegedly went missing the Himachal Congress lodged complaints against the incident to the police at Manali and Keylong.

Sonia Gandhi had laid the foundation stone for the Rohtang Tunnel project on June 28, 2010, at Dhoondi in Manali.

Terming the removal of foundation plaque as 'undemocratic and mischief of BJP leaders,' Lahaul-Spiti Congress chief Gyalchan Thakur approached the police.

Himachal Congress chief Kuldeep Rathore also wrote a letter Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jairam Thakur. In the letter, state Congress chief termed the removal of foundation plaque as illegal and demanded action against those involved for doing so.

Giving a 15-day ultimatum for restoring plaque, the Congress leader threatened to launch a state-wide protest.

“If the missing foundation stone is not re-installed, Congress will hold a state-wide agitation against the government. This [removing the stone] is an undemocratic, unconventional and illegal step ever,” Kuldeep Rathore was quoted as saying in media reports.

The party also alleged that several foundation stones laid by the Congress between 2012 to 2017 had been removed by anti-social elements across the state, however, the government took no action against the culprits.