'Designed by Tamilian': Annamalai slams Tamil Nadu's 'Rs' move

In Tamil Nadu, the language row with the central government has reached to rupee now. Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday dropped the official rupee symbol with the Tamil letter for ‘ru’ from ‘rubai’ (rupees in Tamil) for the state budget 2025-26.He shared the new logo on X. The previous Budget carried the Indian currency symbol ₹. The BJP's state unit boss, K Annamalai slammed the Chief Minister as "stupid". In an X post Annamalai pointed out the Re symbol, adopted by the country in July 2010, had been designed by Thiru Udhay Kumar, the son of a former DMK MLA. "How stupid can you become?" Another senior Tamil BJP leader - ex-Governor Tamilisai Soundarajan - also ripped into the DMK, alleging the swap "is against the Constitution" and accusing the DMK of "working against the national interest". "They should focus on basic issues rather than changing alphabets."

#WATCH | Chennai, Tamil Nadu: On three-language issue, BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan says, "There are lessons on Kalaignar in 10th and 12th standard books. They want to Kalaignar-ise the education system of the state. How can they call it (NEP) a saffronising policy? Other… pic.twitter.com/KmiXMwiP7O

— ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2025

This is the first time a state rejected the national currency symbol. However, DMK spokesperson A Saravanan said it was not the state rejecting the official rupee symbol, but an attempt to promote the Tamil language with the usage of the letter 'ru'.AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan said the Chief Minister can't act stupid and instigate people in the name of state’s rights.
CPI leader D Raja says, "Tamil Nadu government has taken a few initiatives in order to enlighten all sections of the society. This budget is in Tamil and is meant for Tamil Nadu... The government has not changed the numbers, and that needs to be understood. Only the symbol has been changed... It is not against the Constitution in any form..."