Panchkula, Chandigarh:
A Gurudwara in Panchkula, Chandigarh, has reportedly refused to hold a prayer service in memory of Operation Blue Star veteran, Lt Gen (retd) RS Dyal, who died last year.
The management of the Gurudwara apparently refused to give permission to his family to hold a prayer ceremony, or a 'bhog', on the grounds that he had taken part in the operation.
But a priest at the Gurudwara now denies the charges. Bhai Palvinder Singh said "Nobody contacted me. We don't refuse prayers for anyone. Once someone has passed away, it is past. Perhaps there could have been a problem with availability of dates."
Gen Dyal was chief of staff of the western command at the time of Operation Blue Star - an Indian military operation against Sikh separatists in 1984.
Major SS Dhillon, Gen Dyal's friend of over 60 years, told NDTV, "He was not the only Sikh officer who participated in Operation Blue Star. In the army, one has to accept the orders of the government. Sikhism is very a broad-minded religion. He is no more; it is unfair to deny religious services in his memory."
A 1965 Indo-Pak War hero, Gen Dyal is an awardee of the Maha Vir Chakra, the country's second highest war-time gallantry award.