Condemnable & Laughable: BJP as DMK Changes ₹ Symbol in TN Budget
The recent move by the Tamil Nadu government to change the official rupee symbol ‘₹’ in the state budget to the Tamil letter for “Ru” has sparked a heated debate, with the BJP taking strong exception to it. In a statement, BJP’s K Annamalai described the move as “condemnable and laughable”, while also questioning the maturity and wisdom of the Tamil Nadu government. But what exactly is behind this controversy, and what does it say about the ongoing Hindi-Tamil row in the country?
For the uninitiated, the rupee symbol ‘₹’ was introduced in 2010 as a part of a campaign to promote the use of the Indian rupee as an international currency. The symbol was designed by a team led by Indian designer D Udaya Kumar, and was officially adopted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 2011. Since then, the symbol has been widely used across the country, and is recognized by the government, banks, and businesses alike.
So, what prompted the Tamil Nadu government to change the symbol in its budget? According to sources, the decision was taken to assert the state’s cultural identity and to promote the use of the Tamil language. The state government has argued that the use of the ‘₹’ symbol is dominated by Hindi, and that the change will help to promote the use of the Tamil language in official contexts.
However, the BJP has been quick to condemn the move, with K Annamalai stating that it is “not only condemnable but also laughable” that the Tamil Nadu government has decided to change the rupee symbol. “They are either foolish or this shows their immaturity,” he added. The BJP has also pointed out that the use of the ‘₹’ symbol is not limited to Hindi-speaking states, and that it is widely recognized across the country.
The controversy has also raised questions about the role of language in Indian politics. The Hindi-Tamil row has been a long-standing issue in Tamil Nadu, with many Tamil parties and activists accusing the central government of promoting Hindi at the expense of other languages. The DMK, which is the ruling party in Tamil Nadu, has been a strong advocate for the use of the Tamil language, and has often clashed with the BJP over issues related to language and culture.
The move by the Tamil Nadu government has also been seen as a challenge to the central government’s authority, with some seeing it as a form of defiance in the face of perceived Hindi dominance. The controversy has also raised questions about the powers of the state governments in India, and whether they have the authority to make decisions on matters related to language and culture.
In conclusion, the controversy over the rupee symbol in Tamil Nadu is a complex issue that raises questions about language, culture, and the role of the state governments in India. While the DMK has argued that the change is necessary to promote the use of the Tamil language, the BJP has condemned the move as “condemnable and laughable”. As the debate continues, it will be interesting to see how the issue unfolds, and what implications it may have for the future of language and culture in India.
