DMK Accused of Challenging National Identity Amid Language War with Centre
March 13, 2025: Tamil Nadu’s DMK government has replaced the rupee symbol (₹) with a Tamil letter (Ru) in its 2025/26 budget promotional materials, triggering a fresh controversy between the state and BJP-led Centre. The move, which was highlighted after Chief Minister MK Stalin shared the budget logo on X, comes amid the state’s ongoing battle against the ‘imposition’ of Hindi through the National Education Policy (NEP).
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Tamil Nadu government replaces the Rupee symbol with a Tamil language symbol representing the same on its Tamil Nadu Budget 2025-26. The previous Budget carried the Indian currency symbol ₹
— ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2025
(Photo source for pic 1: TN DIPR) pic.twitter.com/Mb2ruTtDFV
🔹 Key Highlights:
- 🔻 Symbol Swap: The rupee symbol was replaced with Tamil script in budget posters, unlike last year’s version.
- 🔻 DMK’s Justification: Party leaders maintain that the change is not illegal or political but a reflection of Tamil pride.
- 🔻 BJP’s Reaction: The BJP has condemned the move, accusing the DMK of separatism and diverting focus from governance failures.
- 🔻 Political Firestorm: BJP leader K Annamalai ridiculed the move, pointing out that the rupee symbol was designed by a former DMK MLA’s son.
- 🔻 Language Row: The move intensifies Tamil Nadu’s resistance against Hindi imposition, with Stalin declaring the NEP a “saffronisation policy”.
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🔻 DMK vs BJP Over Hindi Imposition
The DMK Government's State Budget for 2025-26 replaces the Rupee Symbol designed by a Tamilian, which was adopted by the whole of Bharat and incorporated into our Currency.
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) March 13, 2025
Thiru Udhay Kumar, who designed the symbol, is the son of a former DMK MLA.
How stupid can you become,… pic.twitter.com/t3ZyaVmxmq
- Tamil Nadu follows a two-language policy (Tamil & English) and rejects the three-language formula under NEP.
- BJP argues that learning Hindi will benefit job-seekers in other states, but Stalin accuses the Centre of “Hindi colonialism”.
- The Centre threatened fund cuts of ₹2,150 crore if Tamil Nadu does not implement NEP.
#WATCH | Chennai, Tamil Nadu: BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan says, "They have ruled Tamil Nadu for so many years and have presented the budget so many times; why do they want to dramatise it like this? They were in the centre for so many years why didn't they take this… https://t.co/4PkEaejG0m pic.twitter.com/CDpMGrXjrM
— ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2025
📊 What’s Next?
With state elections approaching, this move fuels the DMK-BJP rivalry. Will Tamil Nadu’s linguistic pride clash with national economic policies, or is this just election-driven symbolism?
📢 Stay tuned for further developments.
Tags:
Tamil Nadu budget, rupee symbol controversy, DMK vs BJP, Hindi imposition, National Education Policy, MK Stalin, Tamil Nadu elections, Tamil language pride, language politics