Tamil Nadu Replaces Rupee Symbol with Tamil Letter in Budget Logo, Sparks Debate
Chennai: Tamil Nadu has replaced the rupee symbol (₹) with the Tamil letter for “Ru” in promotional materials for the 2025-26 state budget, set to be presented on Friday. Last year’s budget posters featured the standard rupee symbol, but this year’s version, with the tagline “Everything for Everyone,” showcases the new change.
The modification gained attention after Chief Minister MK Stalin shared the updated logo on X.
The move comes amid the ongoing tussle between the ruling DMK and the BJP-led central government over alleged ‘Hindi imposition’ through the National Education Policy’s three-language formula.
While there has been no official statement from the Tamil Nadu government regarding the change, DMK leader Saravanan Annadurai defended it, saying, “There is nothing illegal about this. It is not a showdown. We prioritise Tamil, and that is why the government made this decision.”
The BJP, as expected, has strongly opposed the move.
Party spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy told NDTV that the change suggests the DMK wants to position itself as “separate from India” and accused the ruling party of using it as a distraction from governance failures.
State BJP chief K. Annamalai, who is leading a door-to-door campaign in support of the three-language formula, dismissed the swap as “stupid.”
In a post on X, Annamalai pointed out that the rupee symbol (adopted in July 2010) was designed by the son of a former DMK MLA. “How stupid can you become?” he wrote.
BJP Slams Tamil Nadu’s Rupee Symbol Swap, Calls It ‘Unconstitutional’
Senior Tamil Nadu BJP leader and former Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan also criticized the DMK, calling the rupee symbol swap “unconstitutional” and accusing the ruling party of “working against the national interest.” She argued that the government should focus on real issues rather than “changing alphabets.”
In a sharp dig, she even challenged Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to “change his name to a Tamil alternative.”
The controversy unfolds as Tamil Nadu gears up for elections next year—a high-stakes battle between the DMK and AIADMK, with the BJP, which has long struggled for a political foothold in the state, waiting in the wings.
The Larger Battle: Language Politics & NEP
At the heart of this dispute is the broader ‘language war’ between the DMK and the BJP-led central government over the National Education Policy (NEP). The policy mandates that students from Class VIII onwards must learn a third language from a list of 22 options, including Hindi—something Tamil Nadu has fiercely opposed.
The state government insists that its existing two-language policy (Tamil and English) has served Tamil Nadu well, contributing to its status as India’s second-largest economy. The BJP, however, argues that learning an additional language—especially Hindi—will help students when they travel to other states. The party also maintains that NEP does not force students to study Hindi.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has accused the DMK of “creating a false narrative for political gains,” referencing the upcoming elections. The NEP battle has led to heated exchanges between him and Chief Minister Stalin, with Stalin even accusing the BJP of “blackmail.” This was after Pradhan warned that ₹2,150 crore in central funds could be withheld if Tamil Nadu refuses to implement the policy.
Stalin vs. Centre: The Hindi Imposition Debate
Stalin has been vocal in his opposition, calling the NEP a “saffronisation policy” designed not to “develop India but to develop Hindi.” At an event in Tiruvallur, he warned that the policy would “completely destroy Tamil Nadu’s education system.”
The Chief Minister has also clashed with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who claimed the BJP had done more for Tamil speakers than the DMK. Shah pointed to the central government’s decision to allow Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) exams in regional languages, including Tamil. However, it’s worth noting that this decision came only after Stalin protested against the exams being held solely in Hindi and English.
Responding to BJP’s push for Hindi, Stalin retorted, “This is like a kindergarten student lecturing a PhD holder.” He reminded the BJP that Tamil Nadu has historically resisted Hindi imposition, referencing the anti-Hindi agitations of the 1960s.
“History is clear—those who tried to impose Hindi on Tamil Nadu have either been defeated or later aligned with the DMK. Tamil Nadu will not tolerate Hindi colonialism replacing British colonialism,” Stalin declared.
