Tamil Nadu Replaces Rupee Symbol in State Budget Logo, Escalating Language Dispute with Centre

The DMK government’s decision to swap the rupee symbol with a Tamil letter highlights ongoing tensions over language policies and regional identity.

The Tamil Nadu government replaced the Indian rupee symbol (₹) with the Tamil letter 'Ru' in the logo for its 2025-26 state budget, citing regional pride and the promotion of the Tamil language.
Chief Minister MK Stalin emphasized the move as a symbolic assertion of Tamil identity, while BJP leaders criticized it as divisive and unconstitutional.
The controversy is part of a broader conflict between the DMK-led state government and the BJP-led central government over language policies, including opposition to the National Education Policy's three-language formula.
BJP leaders, including Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, accused the DMK of fostering secessionist sentiments, while DMK leaders defended the decision as within constitutional bounds.
This dispute comes against the backdrop of upcoming elections in Tamil Nadu and ongoing debates over issues like delimitation and the role of regional languages in national policies.