English 'Rs' Doesn't Matter to BJP, But Tamil 'ரூ' Matters, Mocks MK Stalin
Stalin: 'Ru' Symbol in TN Budget Reflects Language Policy Resolve
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M K Stalin on Sunday defended the replacement of the Indian rupee symbol with the Tamil letter 'Ru' in the 2025-26 budget logo, stating it symbolized the party’s unwavering commitment to its language policy. In his “Ungalil Oruvan” video address, Stalin took a swipe at the BJP, saying, “Those who don’t like Tamil made it a big news,” after he unveiled the logo, which sparked a political row.
The shift from the rupee symbol to 'Ru'—derived from 'Rubaai,' the Tamil word for rupees—drew sharp criticism from the BJP, with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman calling it divisive.
Stalin countered, “We had the 'Ru' to show how determined we are in the language policy.” He mocked Sitharaman’s focus on the issue, noting, “The union finance minister who did not respond to [our pleas for] funds for the 100-day job scheme (MGNREGA), disaster management, and school education, has spoken on this matter.” He pointed out her use of 'Ru' in posts, adding, “In English, Rupees is written simply as Rs. That doesn’t matter to them, but this seems to be an issue for them.”
Stalin framed the move within Tamil Nadu’s resistance to the Centre’s National Education Policy, which the DMK claims imposes Hindi, a charge the BJP denies. Reaffirming the state’s two-language formula of Tamil and English, he said the budget, presented on Friday, has won nationwide praise, bolstered by Tamil’s prominence.
Dismissing opposition barbs as vendetta, he stressed the government’s openness to constructive critique while highlighting its fiscal discipline and ambition to make Tamil Nadu a USD 1 trillion economy by 2030. This, he said, persists despite challenges like potential Lok Sabha seat reductions post-delimitation and disputes over central funds. “Overall, our budget was a hit across the nation, as was Tamil,” he asserted.
