Striking a conciliatory note on the Annandale ground controversy, Army Chief Gen V K Singh today said he would speak to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister P K Dhumal and resolve the issue.

"I will talk to the Chief Minister. Ours and the Chief Minister's relationship is very good," Singh said when asked to comment on the row between Himachal Pradesh government and military over ownership of Annandale ground. 

The 121-bigha ground, surrounded by thick forests just 4.5 km from Shimla's Ridge, has been under the Army's control since World War II and has now become a bone of contention between the state government and the Army amid an intensified campaign launched by Himachal Pradesh Cricket association headed by Anurag Thakur, MP, who is the CM's son, to restore it to the state authorities.

The row had escalated after the Army, in a statement, said national security cannot be ignored for "game and gimmicks". The Army Chief said after the news was published he had asked the Western Command about whose fault it was.