'How stupid': BJP responds after Stalin government replaces rupee symbol
What's the story
Bharatiya Janata Party's Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai has slammed the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led state government for changing the rupee symbol in the Tamil Nadu budget logo. The DMK has replaced the rupee symbol (₹) with 'Ru,' a Tamil letter, in its promotional material for the Tamil Nadu budget. Annamalai condemned the "stupid" move and pointed out the original rupee symbol was designed by a Tamilian, Udaya Kumar Dharmalingam.
Designer's background
Udaya Kumar: The mind behind the rupee symbol
Kumar, who designed the original rupee symbol, is an IIT professor and the son of a former DMK MLA. "The DMK Government's State Budget for 2025-26 replaces the Rupee Symbol designed by a Tamilian... How stupid can you be, Thiru @mkstalin?" he said on X. DMK leader Saravanan Annadurai, speaking to News18 about the change said the party has made the change to prioritize Tamil.
Symbol's significance
Annamalai defends the national acceptance of rupee symbol
In an interview with NDTV, Annamalai defended the national acceptance of the rupee symbol. He said though many Tamils use 'Ru' while writing, including himself, it can't replace a nationally accepted symbol. "What the DMK government has done is it wants to replace the rupee symbol with 'Ru,' which I think is nonsensical and highly condemnable," he said.
Language conflict
Annamalai accuses DMK of escalating "language war"
Annamalai also accused the Stalin government of intensifying its "language war" with the Centre, which is in knee-deep puddle with the DMK over its refusal to implement the National Education Policy (NEP). The NEP mandates learning of three languages, including Hindi. DMK alleges the policy seeks to impose Hindi, against the state's two-language policy of Tamil and English. Annamalai dismissed such grievances as artificial and said his signature campaign in support of three-language policy has received massive rural support.