MK Stalin reveals why he replaced 'Rs' with 'Ru' in Tamil Nadu budget logo

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had slammed the MK Stalin government for the move, saying it promoted "secessionist sentiment".

Updated on: Mar 17, 2025, 24:10:59 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin on Sunday said his government replaced the 'Rs' symbol with 'Ru' in the budget 2025-2026 to demonstrate DMK's commitment to the language issue. He was referring to his allegation that the Central government has been trying to foist Hindi on Tamil Nadu by enforcing the National Education Policy (NEP).

MK Stalin claimed Nirmala Sitharaman had herself used the word 'Ru'. (File photo)

"I had released the budget logo. We had put 'Ru' in it to show how committed we are to the language policy. That's all. But, those who don't like Tamil have made it big news," MK Stalin said in a video.

The Tamil Nadu government's replacing the rupee symbol with 'Ru,' the first letter of 'Rubaai' that denotes the national currency in the vernacular language, had kicked up a row.

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had slammed the MK Stalin government for the move, saying it promoted "secessionist sentiment".

MK Stalin slams Nirmala Sitharaman

The CM, in his regular “Ungalil Oruvan” (One among you) video address, also took a jibe at Sitharaman for her criticism on the rupee symbol issue, saying she could respond on the matter but not on Tamil Nadu's plea for funds.

"We had pleaded with the Union Government to give funds for a 100-day job scheme (MGNREGA), disaster management, and release school education funds. The union finance minister (Sitharaman) did not respond to these, but has spoken on this matter," he said.

MK Stalin claimed Nirmala Sitharaman had herself used the word 'Ru'.

"In English, Rupees is written simply as Rs. That doesn't matter to them, but this seems to be an issue for them. Overall, our budget was a hit across the nation, as was Tamil," he said.

MK Stalin has warned the Centre that he would implement the NEP and the three-language policy. He warned of starting a language war if the BJP-led government imposed Hindi on Tamil Nadu. He also accused the Centre of plotting to reduce the state's Lok Sabha seats by way of delimitation.

With inputs from ANI, PTI

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.