New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has strongly criticized the Tamil Nadu government for removing the rupee symbol (₹) from its budget documents and replacing it with “Rs.” She questioned the rationale behind this move, reminding that the DMK was part of the UPA government when the rupee symbol was officially adopted in 2010.
Sitharaman pointed out that the rupee symbol holds international recognition and that India is actively working towards globalizing UPI services. She questioned whether such actions were weakening India’s own currency identity.
“Elected representatives and officials take an oath to uphold the sovereignty and integrity of the country. Removing a national symbol like ‘₹’ goes against that commitment,” Sitharaman remarked, warning that such actions promote divisive tendencies.
She further noted that the designer of the rupee symbol was the son of a former DMK MLA, making the party’s move even more questionable. She accused the DMK government of fostering separatist sentiments, stating that their actions undermine national unity and must be reconsidered.
