Dhumal met AK Antony as part of efforts to take control of Annandale ground even as Gen VK Singh insisted that the land in Shimla was the 'only place' suitable for strategic purposes.
Upping the ante over the row with army over a piece of land in Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister PK Dhumal on Monday complained to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about the 'interference' and indiscipline" by the force.
Dhumal also met Defence Minister AK Antony as part of efforts to take control of Annandale ground even as Army Chief Gen VK Singh insisted that the 24-acre land in Shimla was the "only place" suitable for strategic purposes.
Gen Singh, however, sought to control damage over Western Command's press statement that national security could not be ignored for "game and gimmicks" as he said it would be rectified. An inquiry was also ordered into the same.
Dhumal said he met the Prime Minister over "the way the army people are interfering" on the Annandale issue.
He alleged, "indiscipline is increasing and army officers are making press statements. Indiscipline in central forces is an issue of serious concern."
Asked whether he would be going ahead with his threat of filing a defamation case, he said, "some press statement has been given (by the army). I have said if an unconditional apology is tendered it is fine, otherwise I am filing a defamation suit in the court."
Dhumal had yesterday threatened to sue the army, whose Western Command had contended that national security could not be ignored for "game and gimmicks".
He insisted that "the allegations are without any basis... I don't know why such a statement has been given. Now, let them face the result of giving such statements."
Later Dhumal met Antony and hoped that the action will be taken in the case.
On the other hand, the army Chief underlined that the ground was "the only place which is open and suitable for strategic purposes.. That land was given to the army on lease and it was the only place where a helicopter can land in times of an emergency."
He told reporters that he would talk to Dhumal. "Ours and the Chief Minister's relationship is very good."
The army Chief said after the news was published, he had asked the Western Command about whose fault it was.
"They (Western Command) have told us. They will rectify it and we have no problem with that," Singh said.
The army Headquarters, in a statement today, said the press statement issued by the Western Command was "derogatory" and ordered an inquiry into it.
The piece of land surrounded by thick forests has become a bone of contention between the state government and the army amid an intense campaign by Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association headed by Anurag Thakur, MP and son of Dhumal, to restore it to the state authorities.
Talking to PTI after meeting Antony in his office, Dhumal said, the Defence Minister expressed "disappointment" at the statement issued by the army.
He said Antony had told him that in the morning itself he had told the army Chief and the Western Commander that "whatever has happened is wrong."
Dhumal insisted that the state government has always cooperated with the army and recalled that he had raised the issue last year when Antony had visited the Rohtang pass.
Dhumal said that in 1988, the then Defence Minister K C Pant had agreed to hand over the land to the civil administration, provided army was allowed to use it for operational purposes.
"I showed Antony the record that in 1988, the then Defence Minister KC Pant had said that the ground can be handed over to the civil administration, provided army is allowed to use it for helicopter landing facility and usage during operations," Dhumal said.
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