Language Row: Tamil Nadu Government Replaces Rupee Symbol with Tamil Alphabet

BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan criticized the Tamil Nadu government for replacing the Rupee symbol with a Tamil letter in the state Budget logo, sparking a political controversy. The Chief Minister justified the move amid ongoing tensions over the national language policy, which critics say undermines regional identities.

The Bharatiya Janata Party's MLA, Vanathi Srinivasan, has launched a scathing attack on the MK Stalin-led Tamil Nadu government, accusing it of deliberately disrespecting national symbols. Her criticism follows the state's decision to replace the Rupee symbol 'Rs' with the Tamil alphabet 'Ru' in the latest Budget logo.

This move comes amidst heated language disputes between the State and the Central government. The controversy gained momentum after the Chief Minister released a video displaying the 2025-26 Budget logo with the substituted symbol. BJP Tamil Nadu Chief K Annamalai condemned this decision, labeling it a 'stupid' action that discredits the work of Thiru Udhay Kumar, who originally designed the Rupee symbol.

Central to this uproar is the ongoing debate over the National Education Policy's three-language formula. Tamil Nadu leaders fear this policy will impose Hindi and diminish the role of regional languages, thus impacting the state's linguistic diversity and autonomy. As tensions rise, the standoff between the State and Central governments continues to escalate.

(With inputs from agencies.)