

Tamil Nadu budget 2025-26 to be tabled today amid controversy over Rupee symbol removal
Thangam Thenarasu is set to present the state budget for the financial year 2025-26 today in the Assembly Hall at Fort St. George. The budget, expected to outline key financial policies and welfare measures, has, however, been overshadowed by a controversy surrounding the removal of the Indian rupee symbol (₹) from the budget’s official logo.
In a move that has sparked a political storm, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s government replaced the Devanagari-scripted rupee symbol with the Tamil letter ‘Roo’ (‘ரூ’), representing ‘Roobai’—the Tamil term for rupee. The new logo, accompanied by the slogan “Ellarkum Ellam” (Everything for Everyone), was unveiled on Thursday, drawing sharp reactions from opposition leaders and Union Ministers.
BJP, Opposition Slam ‘Regional Chauvinism’
The ruling DMK’s decision has been met with fierce criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other opposition leaders. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman called it “a completely avoidable example of language and regional chauvinism.”
She further stated, “This signals a dangerous mindset that weakens Indian unity and promotes secessionist sentiments under the pretence of regional pride.” She also pointed out that the rupee symbol, adopted officially in 2010 under the Congress-led UPA government, was designed by Tamil Nadu’s own D. Udaya Kumar, the son of former DMK MLA N. Dharmalingam.
“By erasing it now, the DMK is not only rejecting a national symbol but also disregarding the creative contribution of a Tamil youth,” she added.
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Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai echoed similar sentiments, questioning the rationale behind the decision. In a sharp remark directed at CM Stalin, he said, “The DMK government’s budget