Chennai, Mar 16 (UNI) Chief Minister and DMK President M K Stalin on Sunday justified replacing
the Indian Rupee symbol with Tamil letter "Ru' in the State Budget logo and said it was done to show how Tamil Nadu was committed to its Language policy.
But those who did not like Tamil has made it a major issue, he said.
On the eve of the presentation of the budget 2025-26 in the State Assembly by Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu on March 14, the Chief Minister sprang a surprise by releasing the Budget
logo with the Rupee symbol in Tamil letter.
In the last year's budget, the state government used the Indian Rupee logo--widely accepted in the country--which was designed by the son of a DMK MLA.
In his social media handle, Mr Stalin shared the budget logos of last year and this year.
The ruling DMK replacing the Indian Rupee logo triggered strong opposition and criticisms from
the Opposition parties, including the BJP as the change was made in the backdrop of State's confrontation with the Centre on accepting NEP, which the DMK government contend was aimed
at imposing Hindi and implementing three-language policy in the State, and on the proposed delimitation exercise based on population, which might result in reduction of Lok Sabha seats in
TN from the present 39 to 31.
In a video address as part of his 'Ungalil Oruvan' (One Among You) question and answer series released this evening, Mr Stalin, responding to a querry that his tweet on Rupee logo change has
hit he National headlines, said "nothing...I just released the Budget logo with the Tamil letter "Ru"
to prove how we are committed and determined in our Language policy. That's all".
"But those who did not like Tamil (langauge) has made it a big news", Mr Stalin said, taking a dig
at Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's criticism targetting the ruling DMK for replacing
the budget logo with Tamil Letter "Ru" as against the Indian Rupee symbol.
Stating that the TN government had placed 100s of demands before the BJP-led Government at
the Centre, including release of wages under 100 day MGNREGS scheme, disaster relief funds
and due share of funds under the SSA scheme for the school education sector, the Chief Minister
said, Ms Nirmala Sitharaman, without replying to any of these, has spoken about the changing the Rupee symbol with Tamil letter in the Budget logo.
It may be recalled that Ms Nirmala Sitharaman reacting to change in Rupee symbol by the DMk government termed it
as regional chauvinism and asserted that it's more than symbolism, signalling a dangerous mindset that would weaken Indian unity and promote secessionism.
Mr Stalin said the Union Finance Minister herself has made several posts using the Tamil letter "Ru".
"In English, everyone will right Rupees simply as Rs", the Chief Minister said.
"Without understanding it as an issue, the State's decision to replace the Rupee symbol in Tamil
letter looked like an issue", he said.
"In totality, our Budget and Tamil has become a big hit at the National level", he added.
Recalling the salient features of the Budget, which had received wide appreciation, Mr Stalin said
his immediate next plan was to gear up the Ministers and officials to implement the announcements made in the Budget.
Pointing out that the Centre was deceiving Tamil Nadu in allocation of funds and adopting an indifferent attitude, the threat of reducing the Lok Sabha seats for questioning non-release of due share of funds to the State, Mr Stalin said "We need to fight for our due funds to the State and justice".
"We have look into it and also achieve the target of making TN a USD one trillion economy by 2030, besides attaining the goal of making the State Numero Uno in all the spheres...Lot of works are there to do...So there is no rest", he added.
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