National

Hindi row: TN discards official rupee symbol ₹, chooses Tamil for state budget

Published

11 months ago

March 13, 2025

In a bold move against the BJP-led Union government’s imposition of Hindi and the National Education Policy, the DMK government under MK Stalin has opted to replace the official rupee symbol ₹ in the state budget with its own Tamil-script logo, ‘ru’, which has historical roots dating back to the British era.

Following the release of the state’s first-ever economic survey, Chief Minister MK Stalin showcased this logo change on social media. Notably, this marks the first instance of a state government rejecting the national currency symbol as a form of protest against the NEP and its three-language policy.

The new logo, ‘ru’, features the slogan “ellorukkum ellam” (Everything for everyone), which underscores the DMK’s commitment to an inclusive governance model as part of its Dravidian philosophy. The decision to adopt a new symbol has caught many off guard, igniting political controversy, with the BJP condemning the action as narrow-mindedness.

Interestingly, the current official rupee symbol was created by D. Udhaya Kumar, the son of a former DMK MLA, and was officially adopted by the Union government on July 15, 2010. His winning design merged the Devanagari ‘₹’ with the Latin letter ‘R’, symbolizing the national tricolor and promoting equality.

In response to this change, BJP State President K. Annamalai criticized the DMK government, questioning how they could replace a symbol crafted by a Tamilian for national currency. He asked rhetorically on ‘X’, “How stupid can you become, @mkstalin?” Former Telangana governor and BJP senior leader Tamilisai Soundararajan also mocked the government’s decision to abandon the official symbol.

Defending the DMK’s stance, TNCC President K. Selvaperunthagai asserted that Tamil Nadu’s opposition to the language policy is gaining recognition from other states, and emphasized the necessity of voicing the state’s sentiments. He noted that when the rupee symbol was adopted in 2010, there was no coercion regarding language; however, the current landscape requires a stronger stance.

National

Three Burned Alive as Car Falls from Bridge in Gujarat’s Rajkot

Published

2 weeks ago

January 31, 2026

Namma Kudla

Gujarat: A tragic accident claimed the lives of three people in Gujarat’s Rajkot district on Monday.A car fell from a bridge and caught fire, killing all occupants on the spot.

The incident occurred on the Gondal–Atkot highway.The car was travelling from Chhota Udepur towards Gondal.

According to reports, the vehicle hit the bridge’s safety barrier.After the collision, the car fell nearly eight feet into a small stream below the bridge.

Soon after the fall, the car caught fire.The occupants were trapped inside the vehicle and were unable to escape.All three were burned alive and died at the scene.

Police and fire personnel rushed to the spot after receiving information.The fire was later brought under control.The bodies were recovered and sent for post-mortem examination.

The exact cause of the accident is under investigation. Further details are awaited.

National

Girl Records Reels Inside Jail, Video Sparks Debate

Published

2 weeks ago

January 30, 2026

Namma Kudla

Bhopal: A young woman has come under public attention after recording reels inside a jail while meeting her boyfriend.

The incident happened at Raipur Central Jail in Chhattisgarh, which is known for high security. Mobile phones are strictly not allowed inside the jail. Despite this rule, the woman carried her phone into the visitor room.

She recorded videos while talking to her boyfriend during the meeting. In the video, she speaks emotionally about visiting him on his birthday. She says she feels sad because she cannot stay with him on his special day.

After the meeting, she uploaded the video on her social media account. The video quickly went viral on different platforms. The inmate seen in the video is identified as Tarakeshwar.

He is currently lodged in Raipur Central Jail. He is an accused in a case under the NDPS Act. The incident has raised serious questions about jail security.

People on social media are criticising jail staff and officials. Many users are asking how a mobile phone was allowed inside the jail.

They are also questioning the checking process at the jail entrance. So far, jail authorities have not given any official reaction.

National

MBBS Student Alleges She Was Drugged, Raped by Friend in Delhi Hotel

Published

4 months ago

October 6, 2025

Namma Kudla

New Delhi: An 18-year-old MBBS student has accused a 20-year-old male friend of drugging and sexually assaulting her at a hotel in Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar area. The alleged incident took place on September 9, police officials said.

According to the complaint, the accused, who is also a medical student, invited the woman to “Hotel Apple” on the pretext of spending time together. Once there, he allegedly gave her a drink laced with drugs and then raped her.

The survivor told police that the accused recorded obscene videos and took pictures during the assault. He later threatened to make the content viral if she reported the incident.

The woman, a native of Jind in Haryana, is currently staying at the hostel of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College in Rohini, Delhi.

Based on her complaint, police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. A search is underway to locate and arrest the accused, officials added.

In a separate case earlier this month, a school manager in Uttar Pradesh was arrested for allegedly raping a Class 8 student. In February, a tuition teacher in Delhi’s CR Park area was accused of repeatedly raping a 15-year-old student over three years and threatening her with blackmail.