The Tamil Nadu government, led by Chief Minister MK Stalin, has sparked controversy by replacing the Indian Rupee symbol ‘₹’ with the Tamil alphabet ‘Ru’ in the state Budget logo for the 2025-26 fiscal year. The logo, unveiled ahead of the Budget presentation on March 14, features the Tamil symbol instead of the national currency symbol. This move comes amid ongoing tensions between the state and the central government, particularly over the National Education Policy’s three-language formula.
BJP’s Tamil Nadu Chief, K Annamalai, criticized the decision, calling it “stupid” and pointing out that the Rupee symbol was designed by a Tamilian, Udhay Kumar, the son of a former DMK MLA. “How stupid can you become, Thiru @mkstalin?” Annamalai wrote, referring to the state’s decision to replace the symbol adopted nationwide.
This latest development follows recent clashes between the Tamil Nadu government and the central administration, with Stalin accusing the central government of attempting to impose Hindi through the NEP. He has labeled the policy a “saffronisation” effort that seeks to undermine Tamil Nadu’s education system and regional languages.
The conflict centers around the NEP’s three-language formula, which Tamil Nadu fears will prioritize Hindi, sidelining regional languages and reducing the state’s autonomy. Stalin has also raised concerns about the withholding of funds for Tamil Nadu schools as a form of pressure to accept the NEP.
