No differences between Himachal Govt. and army on land row issue: Brig. Sharma

Shimla, Apr 17 (ANI): Brigadier A K Sharma of the Army's Western Command has said the relation between army and the Himachal Pradesh Government is cordial and added that land row would be resolved soon.

Talking to media here, Brigadier Sharma said the Annandale Grounds were crucial for the army's training program.

"The army has not issued any such statement. Probably things have got distorted. That is what I have to say on this. As far as the state government is concerned, we have no issues as such on this aspect. Our point is very clear, coming back to Annandale that Annandale is a very important piece of ground," Sharma added.

Sharma also said that the ground was of tactical importance for the army from the point of national security as also for defence preparedness.

"See, primarily the Annandale Ground is being used for training, for disaster preparedness and for all-preparedness. Anything else other than this, is secondary," he added.

On Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal's assertion that the state government is ready to provide alternate land in place of the Annandale Ground, Brigadier Sharma said there was no other ground in the region with similar strategic and national security significance.

The Annandale Ground was given on lease by the Himachal Government to the army after Independence, which expired in the year 1982. (ANI)