On Thursday, Tamil Nadu made headlines by replacing the rupee symbol (Re) with a Tamil letter (Ru) in promotional materials for the upcoming 2025/26 state budget, set to be presented the next day. This change, which was shared by Chief Minister MK Stalin on X, marks a shift from last year’s budget posters that featured the Re symbol.
The move is seen against the backdrop of the ongoing tension between the ruling DMK and the BJP-led central government, particularly regarding the issue of ‘Hindi imposition’ linked to the National Education Policy (NEP). While there has been no formal announcement from the Tamil Nadu government about the symbol change, DMK leader Saravanan Annadurai defended the decision, saying, “There is nothing illegal about it… this is not a ‘showdown’. We prioritize Tamil, which is why the government made this move.”
However, the BJP has strongly criticized the switch, with state spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy accusing the DMK of positioning itself as “different from India” and attempting to distract from its own failures. BJP state leader K Annamalai, who is leading a campaign to support the NEP’s three-language policy, slammed CM Stalin, calling him “stupid.” Annamalai also pointed out that the Re symbol, adopted by India in 2010, was designed by the son of a former DMK MLA. Senior BJP leader and ex-Governor Tamilisai Soundarajan also criticized the move, claiming it was “against the Constitution” and accusing the DMK of “working against national interests.” She even challenged Stalin to change his name to a Tamil alternative.
The symbol change comes at a time when Tamil Nadu is gearing up for a crucial state election next year, setting the stage for a fierce political battle between the DMK and AIADMK, with the BJP seeking to make inroads in a state where it has struggled to gain a foothold. This move also fuels the BJP’s criticism that the DMK has done little to promote Tamil.
The timing of the symbol swap also coincides with the ongoing dispute over the NEP, which mandates the study of a third language in schools, including Hindi. The Tamil Nadu government has objected to the policy, emphasizing its two-language system, which includes Tamil and English. The BJP, however, argues that the NEP’s three-language formula will help students better navigate India’s linguistic diversity.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has accused the DMK of creating a “false narrative” for political gain ahead of the election. The standoff between Stalin and the BJP escalated after the latter warned that funds for Tamil Nadu might be withheld if the state refuses to implement the NEP. The issue also touches on concerns over the potential disadvantage for southern states, like Tamil Nadu, in the event of delimitation, which could alter parliamentary representation in favor of BJP strongholds in the north.
The debate has even seen jabs exchanged between CM Stalin and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Shah pointed to the central government’s efforts to support Tamil speakers, such as allowing exams for the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to be conducted in Tamil. Stalin, however, has firmly rejected the imposition of Hindi, accusing the BJP of attempting to replace one form of colonialism with another. This ongoing battle over language and education remains a significant political issue in Tamil Nadu.
