Stalin govt replaces Rupee symbol with Tamil letter in state budget amid language row | India News

Tamil Nadu budget 2025-26

NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu authorities, led by MK Stalin, on Thursday changed the Rupee symbol “₹” with the Tamil script “ரூ” in the emblem for the state’s 2025-26 budget. This transfer comes amid the continuing language debate, with the BJP-led central authorities and the DMK-led Tamil Nadu authorities as soon as once more at odds over the NEP’s three-language coverage.
This transfer has additional fuelled the language debate, with Tamil Nadu repeatedly accusing the Centre of making an attempt to “impose Hindi” on southern states.
Earlier, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin strongly criticised the central authorities, arguing that the push for Hindi threatens the range of regional languages in North India.
He mentioned, “More than 25 native languages in North India have disappeared due to the dominance of Hindi and Sanskrit. The century-old Dravidian movement protected Tamil and its culture through awareness and protests.”
Meanwhile, BJP’s Tamil Nadu chief K Annamalai criticized the DMK authorities’s choice, stating, “The DMK government’s state budget for 2025-26 has replaced the Rupee symbol, which was designed by a Tamilian and adopted nationwide as part of our currency. The creator of the symbol, Thiru Udhay Kumar, is the son of a former DMK MLA.”

He added, “How irrational can you be, Thiru MK Stalin?”