[1]After a heated war of words over the claim of Annandale grounds between the Army and the Himachal Pradesh government, the BJP has now changed its tune.
The party has now distanced itself from Mr. Anurag Thakur, son of Chief Minister Mr. Prem Kumar Dhumal, who had the grand plans of building an international cricket stadium at the historical and strategically important ground.
Already facing lot of embarrassment on the issue BJP has distanced itself from the controversy claming “government had never formulated any plan for a multi purpose stadium at the site nor had it ever backed the “signature campaign” for the ground.
Describing the Anurag Thakur’s stand on the issue as “personnel one” and not to be taken as the stand of the party. The clarification has come from party general secretary Mr. JP Nadda.
It is worth mentioning that it was Mr. Anurag Thakur who happens to be the president of Himachal Cricket Association HPCA started a signature campaign to build a stadium at Annadale. However, the issue became a controversy when army openly emphasized the strategic importance of the ground.
The suggestion of cricket stadium however did not cut much ice either with the political leaders of the state or with environmentalist as the ground is surrounded by the thick green forest considered lungs of Shimla.
The opposition Congress was quick to target the state government for its “insensitiveness towards’ the important issue related to the fragile ecology of the hills.
The Congress leader and union Minister Mr. Virbadhra Singh had already stated that it is better if ground stays with the army instead of being converted in to a cricket stadium for commercial reasons.
However, biggest embarrassment for the state BJP came from the within when its veteran leader and National vice president Mr. Shanta Kumar who said that “national security is more important then cricket”.
Links:
[1] http://archive.asianage.com/annandalejpgcropdisplayjpg-641