Tarn Taran bypoll: Congress faces backlash for featuring Guru Tegh Bahadur ji’s image under party leaders pics on party poster

PTC Web Desk: The Punjab Congress has landed in controversy during the Tarn Taran bypoll campaign after a poster featuring images of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and Bhai Jeevan Singh (Bhai Jaita Ji) was reportedly overlaid with pictures of Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi.

The poster sparked outrage across Sikh circles and drew sharp criticism from political opponents, particularly the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Party president Sukhbir Singh Badal condemned the act, calling it “deeply disrespectful” and demanded that the Congress party publicly apologise to the Sikh Panth.

“Placing the images of political leaders above those of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and Bhai Jeevan Singh Ji is an unforgivable act. The Congress must apologise to the Sikh community,” Sukhbir Singh Badal stated in a social media post.

He also recalled earlier controversies involving the Congress, adding that the party’s Punjab president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring had earlier hurt the sentiments of the Dalit community. “Now they have disrespected the Ninth Guru and Bhai Jeevan Singh Ji, causing deep pain to Sikh community,” he added.

Senior SAD leader Dr Daljit Singh Cheema announced that the party will lodge formal complaints with the Election Commission and the Akal Takht Sahib, alleging that the Congress had insulted Sikh religious figures. Cheema accused the Congress of trying to divert attention from earlier controversies by releasing the now-controversial poster.