Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has strongly criticised Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and his government’s stance for removing the official rupee symbol '₹' from the state’s 2025-26 Budget documents, replacing it with a Tamil letter. Sitharaman described this move as a reflection of a "dangerous mindset" that undermines Indian unity and promotes secessionist sentiments disguised as regional pride.
In a post on social media platform X, Sitharaman stated that the decision to exclude the rupee symbol weakened the commitment to national unity and was more than just a symbolic act.
Sitharaman pointed out the irony of the situation, noting that the rupee symbol '₹' was designed by Th. D Udaya Kumar, the son of former Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MLA N Dharmalingam. She questioned why the DMK did not object to the adoption of the symbol in 2010 when it was officially introduced under the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, at a time when the DMK was part of the ruling alliance at the Centre.
The Finance Minister also referred to the historical and linguistic significance of the term 'Rupaai' (ரூபாய்), which has roots in the Sanskrit word 'Rupya,' meaning 'wrought silver' or 'a worked silver coin.' This term has been central to Tamil trade and literature for centuries, and 'Rupaai' remains the currency name in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka today.
She further highlighted the global recognition of the rupee symbol, noting that several countries, including Indonesia, the Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, Seychelles, and Sri Lanka, officially use the rupee or its derivatives as their currency name. Sitharaman argued that at a time when India is promoting cross-border payments through platforms like UPI, undermining the rupee symbol is counterproductive.
In a post on social media platform X, Sitharaman stated that the decision to exclude the rupee symbol weakened the commitment to national unity and was more than just a symbolic act.
"By erasing the ₹ symbol, the DMK is not only rejecting a national symbol but also disregarding the creative contribution of a Tamil youth," she wrote.
The DMK government has reportedly removed the official Rupee symbol ‘₹’ from the Tamil Nadu Budget 2025-26 documents, which will be presented tomorrow.
If the DMK (@arivalayam) has a problem with ‘₹’, why didn’t it protest back in 2010 when it was officially adopted under the…
— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) March 13, 2025
Sitharaman pointed out the irony of the situation, noting that the rupee symbol '₹' was designed by Th. D Udaya Kumar, the son of former Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MLA N Dharmalingam. She questioned why the DMK did not object to the adoption of the symbol in 2010 when it was officially introduced under the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, at a time when the DMK was part of the ruling alliance at the Centre.
The Finance Minister also referred to the historical and linguistic significance of the term 'Rupaai' (ரூபாய்), which has roots in the Sanskrit word 'Rupya,' meaning 'wrought silver' or 'a worked silver coin.' This term has been central to Tamil trade and literature for centuries, and 'Rupaai' remains the currency name in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka today.
She further highlighted the global recognition of the rupee symbol, noting that several countries, including Indonesia, the Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, Seychelles, and Sri Lanka, officially use the rupee or its derivatives as their currency name. Sitharaman argued that at a time when India is promoting cross-border payments through platforms like UPI, undermining the rupee symbol is counterproductive.
First Published: Mar 13, 2025 10:56 PM IST
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