US DNI Tulsi Gabbard is on a multi-national tour of the Indo-Pacific. She met NSA Ajit Doval in New Delhi on Sunday.

Defending his government’s move to replace the rupee symbol with the Tamil letter ‘Ru’ in the state Budget logo, Chief Minister MK Stalin said even Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had used the Tamil letter instead of the rupee symbol.

Mr Stalin alleged those opposing the use of the Tamil language blew the issue out of proportion. He told reporters the decision was a reflection of Tamil Nadu’s commitment to its language policy.

The southern state has been on a warpath with the Centre over implementing the New Education Policy (NEP) and the three-language formula.

“Interestingly, Nirmala Sitharaman herself used the Tamil letter instead of Re [for rupee] in English,” Mr Stalin told reporters.

The decision to remove the rupee symbol from the Tamil Nadu Budget 2025-26 logo, presented on March 14, drew criticism from opposition parties, including the BJP and the AIADMK.

They alleged the DMK has been engaging in regional politics at the cost of national unity.

Ms Sitharaman condemned the MK Stalin government’s decision, calling it “a completely avoidable example of language and regional chauvinism.” She said removing the rupee symbol signalled “a dangerous mindset that weakens Indian unity and promotes secessionist sentiments under the pretence of regional pride.”

The Union Finance Minister reminded elected representatives of their constitutional duty to uphold national sovereignty, adding the DMK’s move contradicted this commitment. She highlighted the irony behind the decision, pointing out that the rupee symbol was designed by 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,” Ms Sitharaman said.

BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya slammed Mr Stalin and pointed out that the rupee symbol was designed in Devanagari script by Mr Kumar.

AIADMK General Secretary and Leader of Opposition, Edappadi K Palaniswami, called the move a “publicity stunt” designed to divert attention from administrative failures. He accused Mr Stalin of engaging in “empty advertisement campaigns” rather than addressing real needs of the people.

Launching a strong attack on Mr Stalin and his party, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai asked in a social media post, “… How foolish can you become?”

The DMK Government’s State Budget for 2025-26 replaces the Rupee Symbol designed by a Tamilian, which was adopted by the whole of Bharat and incorporated into our Currency.

Thiru Udhay Kumar, who designed the symbol, is the son of a former DMK MLA.

How stupid can you become,… pic.twitter.com/t3ZyaVmxmq

— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) March 13, 2025

The Tamil Nadu government said the Budget logo aims to reflect the state’s linguistic identity. The logo also carries the caption “Everything for All,” which the DMK said embodies its inclusive governance model.

Mr Stalin said the Centre responded only to the rupee symbol issue while ignoring Tamil Nadu’s demands for disaster relief, education funds, and employment schemes. The DMK has repeatedly accused the Centre of imposing Hindi, and the removal of the rupee symbol was seen as part of this broader resistance.

This also marks the first time a state has rejected the national currency symbol, escalating the debate over regional identity versus national unity.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a wide-ranging interaction with American scientist Lex Fridman in a podcast that was released on Sunday. Mr Fridman said that he fasted for 45 hours before the podcast “in honour of this conversation”. “I am fasting right now. It has been almost two days, 45 hours. So just water, no food, in honor of this conversation, just to get in the right mindset, get into the spiritual level,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that he was “pleasantly surprised” to know that Mr Fridman was fasting: “All the more because it feels like you’re fasting as a tribute of respect for me. So, I express my deepest gratitude to you for doing this”.

PM Modi emphasised the benefits of fasting in sharpening the senses, enhancing mental clarity, and instilling discipline.

“Fasting is a way to cultivate discipline… It is a powerful tool to bring both the inner and outer self into balance. It shapes life in profound ways. When you fast, every single one of your senses, especially smell, touch, and taste, becomes highly sensitive. Another thing I’ve experienced is that fasting can greatly accelerate the thinking process and can, uh, give a fresh perspective. You start thinking outside the box,” he said.

When PM Met Obama While Fasting

PM Modi also shared an episode when he met former US President Barack Obama while fasting. “After I became Prime Minister, I had a bilateral meeting at the White House with President Obama, and he had also arranged a formal dinner. Then, as discussions between the two governments progressed, someone said, “Please, join us for dinner.” To which another replied, “But the Prime Minister doesn’t eat.” This left them a bit concerned. How do you host the leader of such a major nation at the White House without serving food?”

He recalled that he was then served a glass of hot water. “When we sat down, they brought me a glass of hot water. I turned to President Obama and jokingly said, ‘Look, my dinner has arrived!’ as I placed the glass in front of me.”

When he met Mr Obama the next time, PM Modi said, “he remembered I was fasting the last time”.  “He smiled and said, ‘Last time, you were fasting’. This time, we’re having lunch. Since you’re not fasting, you’ll have to eat twice as much”.

PM Modi also stressed that fasting “is actually a scientific process” while sharing how he prepares before fasting for an extended period. “Whenever I fast for an extended period, I prepare my body in advance. For 5 to 7 days before the fast, I follow various Ayurvedic practices and yoga practices, along with other traditional cleansing methods to internally reset my system”.

“Before actually beginning the fast, I make sure to drink a lot of water, as much as possible. So, you could say that this detoxification process helps prepare my body in the best possible way. And once I begin fasting, for me, it’s an act of devotion. For me, fasting is a form of self-discipline,” he added.

When PM Fasted For 1st Time

The Prime Minister also recalled the first time he experienced fasting.

“During my school days, there was a movement inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s vision, his vision of cow protection. The government had not enacted any laws at the time. At the time, people across the country observed a one-day fast by gathering in public places in silent protest. We were just kids, probably had just finished primary school. Something inside me said, ‘I should be part of this,'” he said.

“At such a young age, I felt neither hunger nor any desire for food. Instead, I felt a new awareness, a surge of energy within me. So, I became convinced that fasting is a science, far beyond just skipping meals. It is something far greater than that,” he added.

He also noted that fasting never slows him down, rather makes him more energetic. “I work just as much as usual, sometimes I even work more”.