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Tamil Nadu Replaces Rupee Symbol, Drawing Political Backlash

The Tamil Nadu government adopts a Tamil script symbol for its budget logo, sparking criticism from the BJP and raising questions of regional identity and national unity.

Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin arrives to participate in an all-party meeting.
Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin addresses a gathering during a public meeting, in Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu.
Representational image of Tamil Nadu BJP members, who walked out of the state assembly
Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman asked why didn’t the DMK protest back in 2010 when the rupee symbol was officially adopted under the Congress -led UPA government

Overview

  • The Tamil Nadu government replaced the national rupee symbol with the Tamil letter 'Ru' in its 2025-26 budget logo, aiming to promote the Tamil language.
  • BJP leaders, including Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, criticized the move as regional chauvinism and alleged it promotes secessionist sentiments.
  • The original rupee symbol, adopted in 2010, was designed by Tamilian Udaya Kumar, who expressed no resentment regarding the change, viewing it as part of a designer's journey.
  • The controversy ties into a broader dispute between Tamil Nadu's DMK-led government and the BJP-led central government over the National Education Policy and alleged 'Hindi imposition.'
  • The DMK defended the decision as a reflection of Tamil pride and reaffirmed its opposition to the three-language formula proposed in the National Education Policy.