CM Vijay meets PM Modi; raises Mekedatu dam, Tamil anthem issues

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu chief minister called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to New Delhi on Wednesday. This is Vijay's first visit to Delhi since becoming chief minister on May 10.

"During the meeting, he thanked the prime minister for bringing back the Anaimangalam copper plates to India during his visit to the Netherlands," a statement by the Tamil Nadu chief minister's office read.

During the meet, Vijay also requested the Union home ministry to issue appropriate clarification about allowing Tamil Nadu's state song Tamil Thai Vazhthu to continue being sung at the beginning of government functions.


"The chief minister stated that Tamil Thai Vazhthu has always been sung at the beginning of all government functions in Tamil Nadu. He said that following a circular issued by the Union home ministry in January this year, the national anthem has been sung first at certain government events," the statement read.

"In this context, he requested the Union home ministry to issue appropriate clarification allowing the state invocation song to continue being sung at the beginning of government functions," it added.

Vijay also flagged that Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar's "announcement regarding conducting bhoomi puja for the Mekedatu dam project across the Cauvery river was completely against the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) and the Supreme Court verdict, and had caused deep concern among Tamil Nadu's farmers."

He urged PM Modi to advise the Jal Shakti Ministry and the Central Water Resources Tribunal not to permit the project without the consent of all states involved in the dispute. The Mekedatu issue remains a major flashpoint between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over the sharing of Cauvery river water. On Tuesday, Vijay wrote to PM Modi, urging the Centre not to allow the construction of the Mekedatu dam by the Karnataka government.