More Than Mere Symbolism, Signals Dangerous Mindset: Sitharaman Slams Stalin Govt For Replacing ₹ Symbol

New Delhi: Union Finance Minsiter Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday lashed out at the MK Stalin-led DMK government in Tamil Nadu for replacing the Rupee — ₹ — symbol from the Tamil Nadu Budget 2025-26 documents saying this is more than mere symbolism and signals a dangerous mindset that weakens India’s unity and promotes secessionist sentiments under the pretence of regional pride.

In a long note on X, formerly Twitter, Nirmala Sitharaman asked that at a time when India is pushing for cross-border payments using UPI, should we really be undermining our own national currency symbol.

She slammed the Tamil Nadu government for replacing ₹ symbol in state's budget documents saying, “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 has a problem with ‘₹’, why didn’t it protest back in 2010 when it was officially adopted under the Congress -led UPA government, at a time when the DMK was part of the ruling alliance at the Centre?"

DMK disregarding creative contribution of Tamil youth, says Finance Minister 

The Union Finance Minister informed that ironically ‘₹’ was designed by Th. D Udaya Kumar, the son of former DMK MLA N Dharmalingam. By erasing it now, the DMK is not only rejecting a national symbol but also utterly disregarding the creative contribution of a Tamil youth.

Tamil word Rupaai has deep roots in Sanskrit, says Sitharaman  

Speaking about link between Tamil and Sanskrit, Nirmala Sitharaman said, “…The Tamil word ‘Rupaai’ (ரூபாய்) itself has deep roots in the Sanskrit word ‘Rupya,’ meaning ‘wrought silver’ or ‘a worked silver coin.’ This term has resonated across centuries in Tamil trade and literature, and even today, ‘Rupaai’ remains the currency name in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.”

“In fact, several countries, including Indonesia, the Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, Seychelles, and Sri Lanka, officially use ‘Rupee’ or its 'equivalent/derivatives' as their currency name,” the Finance Minister said.

Rupee symbol internationally well recognised, says Sitharaman  

Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman further said that the Rupee symbol ₹ is internationally well-recognised and serves as a visible identity of India in global financial transactions.

All elected representatives and authorities are sworn under the Constitution to uphold the sovereignty and integrity of our nation. Removing a national symbol like ₹ from the State Budget documents goes against that very oath, weakening the commitment to national unity, said Sitharaman as she strongly remarked her views against DMK-led government move.

This is more than mere symbolism, it signals a dangerous mindset that weakens Indian unity and promotes secessionist sentiments under the pretence of regional pride. A completely avoidable example of language and regional chauvinism, the Finance Minister said.

Earlier on Thursday, MK Stalin-led DMK government in Tamil Nadu ignited a major controversy after it replaced Rupee – ₹ – symbol with Tamil alphabet – Ru –  in the state's 2025-26 budget documents, to be presented today in the Assembly. Justifying the move, critcised by many, Stalin's government said that it signified their protest against Centre's policies. 

Udaya Kumar, who designed Rupee symbol, says never expected such a debate  

After the DMK government was at the centre of a huge row over replacing rupee symbol, Udaya Kumar, Tamilian designer who designed Indian Rupee ₹ symbol in 2010, in an exclusive conversation with Republic said that symbol he designed was approved following a national-level competition initiated by the then Congress-led UPA government in 2009. 

Udaya Kumar's designed symbol won the competition and subsequently its adoption was announced on July 15, 2010.