Chennai: The ongoing language dispute between the Central government and the Tamil Nadu government has taken a new turn. The Stalin-led Tamil Nadu government has replaced the official Indian Rupee symbol (₹) with the Tamil script symbol ‘ரூ’ in the logo of the state’s 2025-26 budget. The symbol ‘ரூ’ represents ‘Rupee’ in Tamil script.
This marks the first instance where a state has rejected the national currency symbol. The ₹ symbol, officially adopted across India, has been replaced by an indigenous Tamil alternative, leading to intense political debate. The opposition has accused the Tamil Nadu government of disrespecting a national symbol, whereas the ruling DMK government is defending the move as a tribute to Tamil linguistic heritage.
BJP Slams Stalin Government
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly criticized the decision, with Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai and BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya targeting Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.
Annamalai denounced the move, stating, “The Tamil Nadu government has removed the Rupee symbol from the 2025-26 budget, a symbol designed by a Tamil individual and adopted nationwide. The Rupee symbol was created by Udaya Kumar, son of a former DMK MLA. Chief Minister Stalin, how many more foolish decisions will you make?”
Amit Malviya Joins the Criticism
BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya also condemned the Tamil Nadu government’s decision, emphasizing that Udaya Kumar Dharmalingam, the designer of the Rupee symbol, is the son of a former DMK legislator.
In a scathing remark, Malviya stated, “The Indian Rupee symbol, accepted by the entire nation, was designed by a Tamilian, yet Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has removed it from the Tamil Nadu Budget 2025-26 documents. This is an insult to Tamilians. How ridiculous can one be?”
The controversy has intensified the ongoing linguistic and cultural tensions between Tamil Nadu and the Centre, with both sides holding firm to their perspectives.
