Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government has stirred controversy by replacing the national rupee symbol (₹) in its 2025-26 Budget logo with the Tamil letter “Ru” from the word “Rubaai,” the Tamil term for rupee.
The controversy is rooted in the ongoing political tensions between the Tamil Nadu government and the Centre.
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The roots of the dispute run deeper, as the Tamil Nadu government has long been at odds with the Centre over language policies, with repeated accusations that the Union government is attempting to impose Hindi. The decision to alter the rupee symbol is seen as an extension of this resistance, further fueling Tamil Nadu’s opposition to the National Education Policy.
Amid the uproar, Udaya Kumar Dharmalingam, the designer of the iconic rupee symbol, shared his thoughts on the matter.
Speaking to news agency ANI, he said, “I don’t have complete information behind the reasons for this change; probably, the state government has their own ways, views, and reasons to make the changes. I designed this 15 years ago when the Central government floated a competition, and I won it, after which they implemented it, and it’s being widely used. I have no idea what to comment.I am really happy about being the designer of this symbol, but I never expected such a debate to ever occur.”
The political fallout from this decision has been intense. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was quick to condemn the move, describing it as “a completely avoidable example of language and regional chauvinism.” Sitharaman further asserted, “This is more than mere symbolism – it signals a dangerous mindset that weakens Indian unity and promotes secessionist sentiments under the pretence of regional pride.” She also highlighted the irony of the situation, pointing out that the rupee symbol was designed by a Tamilian, Udaya Kumar Dharmalingam, and that removing it now “rejects not only a national symbol but also the creative contribution of a Tamil youth.”
IT Cell Chief Amit Malviya joined the chorus of condemnation, writing on social media, “Chief Minister Stalin is insulting Tamilians by dropping the Indian rupee (₹) sign from the Tamil Nadu Budget 2025-26 document.”
On the other side of the debate, the Tamil Nadu government has defended its decision, claiming that the use of the Tamil letter “Ru” reflects the state’s linguistic identity. The logo, which features the new symbol, also carries the slogan “Everything for All,” which the DMK says embodies its inclusive governance model.
Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai reacted sharply, calling the move “stupid” and accusing CM Stalin of undermining the design created by a Tamilian. On social media, he wrote, “How stupid can you become, Thiru @mkstalin?”
The opposition, led by AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, has also weighed in, accusing the DMK of using the decision as a “publicity stunt” to divert attention from administrative failures. In a social media post, Palaniswami criticised CM Stalin for engaging in “empty advertisement campaigns” rather than addressing the real concerns of the people.
