Shimla:
The Indian Army and the Himachal Pradesh government appear to be heading for a confrontation over the strategically important Annandale ground, which has been in possession of the Army since World War II, amid an intensified campaign launched by Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA).
The ground was leased by the state government to the Army after Independence, a lease that expired in 1982. After 30 years, the state government wants the ground back to build a cricket stadium on the 130 bigha green patch, which is just 4.5 km from Shimla's Ridge. But the Army has said No citing national security.
In a hard hitting press release, the Army said, "Annandale ground is of paramount strategic significance for the Indian Army from national security perspective which can never be ignored in favour of any game and gimmicks being played at the cost of larger national interest and national security. The State seems to be hell bent on destroying the meagre existing forest cover, all at the behest of land mafia, eying phenomenal profits, which the cricket stadium project would bring."
The Army also clarified that "the ground is base for launching disaster management and relief operations".
Tracing the ground's history, it said a portion of Annandale was used by Durand Football Tournament Society instituted in 1888. This was taken over by the Army during World War II to be used as a training camp.
But the pitch is rising over the proposed project. Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has threatened to file a defamatory suit against the Army if it did not tender an unconditional apology for allegedly maligning the image of the BJP-ruled government and him in particular.
Meanwhile, Anurag Thakur, president of Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) and Mr Dhumal's son, is rallying up support for the project. The HPCA took out a public rally in Shimla on April 7, seeking the ground's transfer to the local administration.
"We are ready to fight shoulder to shoulder for our Indian Army, this land is nothing. But in the name of Army they should not play with the future of these children," said Mr Thakur.
The Chief Minister will now take up the issue with the Prime Minister but with both sides digging in their heels, the issue is unlikely to be resolved anytime soon.