New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi today during his first official visit to the national capital after assuming office earlier this month.
The meeting lasted around 20 minutes, during which Vijay submitted a list of issues related to Tamil Nadu and requested the Prime Minister to consider them.
Vijay thanked PM Modi for the recent return of ancient copper plates from Holland. He also discussed the sensitive Mekedatu dam issue linked to Karnataka’s proposed project, which could affect downstream water availability in Tamil Nadu.
The Chief Minister told the Prime Minister that any unilateral move by the Karnataka government to build a dam near the border between the two states would go against the spirit of the Cauvery Water Tribunal and the Supreme Court’s verdict.
Since the project would require approval from the Union government, Vijay urged PM Modi to direct the Jal Shakti Ministry not to grant permission for the dam.
The issue gained fresh attention after Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced that the state would soon submit a revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Mekedatu project to the Union government and move ahead with the process. Shivakumar had also reportedly said that Tamil Nadu had “no right” to oppose the project, triggering immediate backlash in the neighbouring state where tensions over Cauvery water have existed for years.
Another major request raised by Vijay was regarding the Tamil Nadu state anthem. He asked the Prime Minister to allow the state anthem to be played at the beginning of government programmes.
The request comes in the backdrop of the Union Home Ministry’s January order stating that all six stanzas of Vande Mataram, written by Bengali poet Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, should be sung first whenever the national song and the national anthem are played together.
During Vijay’s oath-taking ceremony, Vande Mataram was sung in full, followed by the national anthem Jana Gana Mana and the Tamil Nadu state song Tamil Thai Vazhthu.
Vijay also requested the Centre to establish the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Centre for Airborne Systems in Tamil Nadu.
The Chief Minister, who also heads the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, won a trust vote on May 13 with support from MLAs of the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), VCK and the Indian Union Muslim League.
The TVK emerged as the single largest party after winning 108 seats in the Assembly elections. At least 25 AIADMK MLAs also rebelled and voted in support of Vijay in the Assembly.
