Responsible for the Sikh Genocide, Lt Gen Dyal shunned by Sikhs

[lsingh]

One of the Generals responsible for the massacre of thousands of men , women and children during the 1984 has been shunned by Gurdwaras evenafter his death.

This man carried out Bluestar and Woodrose with enthusiasm when other sensible Generals refused,

Its good that the SGPC and Sukbir Badal have said Bluestar was an outrage against Sikhs and thats why the Bhog was refused. It sends a strong message that the Genocide paticipants are immensely disliked by Sikhs for the Gurdwara to take this action

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Punjab/Chandigarh/P-kula-gurdwara-refuses-to-hold-prayers-for-1965-war-hero/SP-Article1-995938.aspx

A gurdwara in Sector 7 of Panchkula refused to hold prayers to mark the death anniversary of 1965 war hero Lt Gen RS Dyal on December 30, citing his participation in Operation Bluestar, the 1984 army action by which Sikh militants seeking a separate country (Khalistan) were flushed out of theGolden Temple in Amritsar.

The refusal has shocked the defence community of the region.

A devout Sikh who was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, the country's second highest war gallantry award, for the capture of the formidable Haji Pir Pass in J&K in the 1965 war with Pakistan, Lt Gen Dyal was chief of staff, Western Command, at the time of Bluestar. He retired as army commander of the Southern Command, then served as lieutenant governor of Pondicherry (Puducherry) and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and passed away on January 29 last year.

"When I went to the gurdwara to ask them to conduct the rituals, they (the management) said he (Lt Gen Dyal) should have resigned over Bluestar. I was shocked. I said he had just followed orders," said the late officer's wife Barinder Kaur Dyal. "He was the hero of Haji Pir Pass. They don't remember his contribution in the 1965 war, but rake up Bluestar. This should end now."

The religious service was then organised at the family residence with the help of the army's priest, and the langar (community kitchen) was organised at the Khetrapal Officers' Institute (KOI) in Chandimandir.
Reasoned Harbans Singh, secretary of the Sector-7 gurudwara management, "When we had conducted the bhog (prayer) on Lt Gen Dyal's death, the Sikh sangat (community) raised a lot of questions. So this time we decided to go with the sangat."

"Even during the bhog, the gurdwara management was hesitant," said Col Iqbal Singh (retd), a former aide of Lt Gen Dyal, "Arrangements were lacking, and they appeared to be handing us a favour."

When HT contacted Avtar Singh Makkar, president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC), he praised the gurdwara management. "Lt Gen Dyal was involved in the attack on the Akal Takht (the Sikh temporal seat in the Golden Temple complex). Artillery and tanks were used. He never apologised."
Asked whether he recognised Lt Gen Dyal's role in the 1965 war, Makkar said, "What he did in 1984 remains unacceptable."

Lt Gen Raj Kadyan (retd), chairman of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) and former vice-chief of army staff, reacted, "It is a sad incident. An incident like Operation Bluestar should not be used against the army, which is a secular institution. Lt Gen Dyal was a great soldier who deserves respect. We are all proud of him as he did what was required."

Terming the incident unfortunate, Lt Col SS Sohi (retd), president of the Ex-Servicemen Grievance Cell, said, "The army fights for the nation, not for a religion or caste. Soldiers like Lt Gen Dyal are rare."

Lt Gen Dyal is considered one of the main officers during Bluestar along with Lt Gen K Sunderji, who was the army commander (Lt Gen Dyal's immediate superior) in the Western Command, and Lt Gen Kuldip Singh Brar, who led the troops inside the Golden Temple.

General AS Vaidya, the then army chief, was assassinated in Pune in August 1986, while Lt Gen Sunderji died of natural causes in 1999.

Lt Gen Brar was injured in an attack by pro-Khalistan Sikh radicals in London last year.

Maj Gen KS Bajwa (retd), author of five books on wars, said, "Lt Gen Dyal does not deserve such treatment. Operation Bluestar was a Gen Sunderji's show. Lt Gen Dyal just executed what was ordered

[Jonny101]

Great news. Sikhs still have some respect left. Made my day.

[lsingh]

The Gurdwara management that took this decision should be given our full support. The Indian media, Congress and RSS types are up in arms about this, the Gurdwara must be under a lot of pressure.

'Maj Gen KS Bajwa (retd), author of five books on wars, said, "Lt Gen Dyal does not deserve such treatment. Operation Bluestar was a Gen Sunderji's show. Lt Gen Dyal just executed what was ordered'

Interesting how they blame each other , but it is to late. The Naizis at the Nuremberg trials after World War 2 said that they only followed Hitlers orders, this was regarded as no defence as they could have refused as Gen Sinha did.

[West London Singh]

The Gurdwara management that took this decision should be given our full support. The Indian media, Congress and RSS types are up in arms about this, the Gurdwara must be under a lot of pressure.

Too late. Our enemies have beaten us to it. The Gurdwara in question has backtracked to such an extent that they're now telling the Indian media that the General was a really really great man and would be honoured to hold ceremonies in his honour.

[VanHelsingh]

His wife is having a laugh with her comment about raking up the past. Pathetic.

[Pehlvan]

This Dusht helped commit a genocide against his own people. We truly are slaves in India if we have to commemorate the disgraceful life of such scum in our Gurdwaras. What next ?.......an akhand paath in memory of Aurangzeb, Mir Manu, Indira Gandhi ?

Akal Takhat Sahib and SGPC need to speak up now !!!

[VanHelsingh]

This Dusht helped commit a genocide against his own people. We truly are slaves in India if we have to commemorate the disgraceful life of such scum in our Gurdwaras. What next ?.......an akhand paath in memory of Aurangzeb, Mir Mannu, Indira Gandhi ?

Akal Takhat Sahib and SGPC need to speak up now !!!

So who made the u-turn? For once it seemed like everyone was on the same page.

[Pehlvan]

So who made the u-turn? For once it seemed like everyone was on the same page.

I'm not sure, haven't seen a link which confirms that anyone has made a u-turn (I only responded to West London Singh's post). Searching on the internet now, I have only found the following links which seem to say that they are sticking to their guns:

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130122/punjab.htm#7

Service fraternity condemns gurdwara action

The management had refused to conduct prayers on Lt Gen Dayal’s death anniversary

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 21

The refusal of a local gurdwara to grant permission to the family of a decorated Lt General to conduct prayers on his death anniversary on the grounds that he was associated with Operation Bluestar has been termed as “unfortunate and inappropriate” by the retired service fraternity as well as political figures.

The management of the gurdwara in Sector 7 Panchkula, did not allow the family of Lt General Ranjit Singh Dayal to hold a prayer meeting on its premises yesterday. The meeting was held at the departed soldier’s residence and langar organised at the officers’ institute at Chandimandir.

Lt General Dayal was Chief of Staff, Western Command, when Operation Bluestar was launched. A decorated soldier who captured the strategic Haji Pir Pass in Jammu and Kashmir in 1965, for which he was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, later served as GOC-in-C, Southern Command, and Governor of Puducherry.

Describing the incident as unfortunate, Lt General Raj Kadyan, former Deputy Chief of Army Staff, said: “General Dayal was a highly respected soldier. To view a single action through the lens of religion is reducing not only his stature, but also that of the Army, which is the most secular organisation in the country.”

Maj-Gen Satbir Singh of the Indian Ex-servicemen’s Movement said the action on the part of the gurdwara management was inappropriate as Lt General Dayal was only performing his duty to the nation.

Brig Harwant Singh said: “General Dayal was only doing his duty and it was totally wrong on the part of the gurdwara management to act in the way they did. The gurdwara action seems to be sectarian and anti-national.”

Daljit Cheema, SAD spokesperson, said he had not heard about the incident and General Dayal’s family alone could comment on the matter. Leader of the Opposition in the assembly, Sunil Jakhar, said General Dayal was a brave soldier and a gentleman who deserved respect of the nation, especially Punjabis.

[West London Singh]

I'm not sure, haven't seen a link which confirms that anyone has made a u-turn (I only responded to West London Singh's post). Searching on the internet now, I have only found the following links which seem to say that they are sticking to their guns:

No. They've changed their minds big time. There was a time when Sikh gianis were not scared of swords, bullets and death. These days.....the mere threat of arrest is enough to turn evil men into men worthy of respect.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Didn-t-refuse-to-hold-anniv-prayers-for-Bluestar-general--Panchkula-gurdwara/1062819/

[Mehtab Singh]

Head Granthi Palvinder Singh said he can’t recall that whether the family had approached him for holding prayers on December 30, 2012.

Gyani jee, its been only 3 weeks!