New Delhi:  National-carrier Air India has run into a controversy after having painted its airlines’tail wing with the Sikh symbol (Ek Onkar). The decision could lead to demands from various religious communities to display their religious symbols.

The decision to paint the religious symbol on its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft's tail was taken by the airline management to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Dev. The special gesture comes a day after the state-run airline launched a direct flight from Amritsar to Patna on October 27 to mark the occasion.  "The flight, connecting Harmandir Sahib with Takht Sri Patna Sahib, is a tribute to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Devji," Air India had said in an official statement.

Sources said one aircraft would display the Ek Onkar symbol which represents the one supreme reality and is a central tenet of Sikh religious philosophy.

"This is a very controversial decision. Tomorrow, Muslims may demand for displaying their symbols. In a secular country such steps should be avoided," said a government official.


Meanwhile, Minister of Food Processing Harsimrat Kaur Badal welcomed Air India's decision.

"Delighted that @airindiain is celebrating the #550th ParkashPurab of Guru Nanak Dev ji by painting Ek Onkar symbol on its aircraft. It represents the fundamental teaching of Sikhism that "God is one". The entire #Sikh community is proud of this humble tribute," she wrote on Twitter.

Earlier this month, national carrier Air India had paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary by painting his image on an Airbus A320 aircraft.

(With inputs from Agencies)