Chennai, Mar 16 (UNI) Asserting that replacing the Indian Rupee symbol with Tamil letter "Ru' in the State Budget logo was done to show how Tamil Nadu was committed to its Language policy, Chief Minister and DMK President M K Stalin on Sunday defended it and hit out at Union Finance Minister Ms Nirmala Sitharaman for blowing it up as a major issue.

Ms Nirmala, reacting to it, termed the ruling DMK's action as regional chauvinism and said that it's more than symbolism, signalling a dangerous mindset that would weaken Indian unity and promote secessionism.

However, Mr Stalin, justified his action to change the Rupee symbol in the State Budget Logo saying, those who did not like Tamil has made it a major issue.

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--totally accepted in the country--which was designed by the son of a DMK MLA.

In his social media handle, Mr Stalin had 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 the National headlines, said "nothing...I just released the Budget logo with the Tamil letter "Ru"

to prove how we are committed and determined in the Language policy. That's all".

"But those who did not like Tamil (language) has made it a big news", Mr Stalin said, taking a dig

Ms Nirmala Sitharaman's criticism targetting the ruling DMK for replacing the budget logo with Tamil Letter "Ru" as against the Indian Rupee symbol.

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