Promotes Secessionist Sentiments”: N Sitharaman Slams DMK’s Rupee Move

Chennai:

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman was the last to weigh in today on the DMK’s move to replace the rupee symbol with the Tamil letter (Ru), but with the sharpest barb. The move, she said, “signals a dangerous mindset that weakens Indian unity and promotes secessionist sentiments under the pretence of regional pride” and is a “completely avoidable example of language and regional chauvinism”. She also questioned why the DMK had not made its reservations known earlier. 

The state’s ruling DMK had replaced the Devnagari rupee symbol (Re) in promotional material for the state budget – due on Friday morning — making a point amid the blazing row over what it calls “imposition of Hindi” by the Centre through its mandatory three-language policy in schools.

Result — since morning, the party has drawn massive political backlash.  State BJP chief K Annamalai, pointing out that rupee symbol accepted by the nation has been drawn dram by the son of a former DMK MLA, tagged the state’s ruling party “stupid”.