Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Wednesday during his first official visit to the national capital since assuming office. The high-profile meeting lasted for about 20 minutes, during which the newly elected Chief Minister discussed several key state-related issues with the Prime Minister. At the start of the meeting, CM Vijay expressed his gratitude to PM Modi for the recent successful repatriation of ancient, historically significant copper plates back to India from Holland.
A major highlight of the discussion was the long-standing inter-state water dispute over the Cauvery River. CM Vijay raised serious objections to the Mekedatu dam project proposed by the Karnataka government, warning that its construction near the border would drastically reduce water availability in the lower riparian areas of Tamil Nadu. He emphasized that any unilateral move by Karnataka violates the core spirit of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the Supreme Court rulings. Since the project strictly requires central clearance, Vijay requested the Prime Minister to instruct the Ministry of Jal Shakti not to grant approvals for the dam. This comes amid Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar’s recent announcement that a revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be submitted to the Centre soon.
Additionally, CM Vijay made an official request regarding state protocol, asking the Prime Minister to permit the playing of the state anthem (Tamil Thai Vazhathu) at the commencement of official state government functions. This request is significant as it follows a Union Home Ministry directive issued in January stating that when the national anthem and national song are played together, the first six stanzas of Vande Mataram must be sung first. During Vijay’s own swearing-in ceremony, the national song and national anthem were played ahead of the state anthem. Furthermore, the Chief Minister urged the Prime Minister to set up a dedicated Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) airborne systems center in Tamil Nadu to boost industrial and technological growth.
