Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Meets PM Modi, Seeks Clarification on State Song, Opposes Mekedatu Dam

NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu chief minister on Wednesday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Delhi. "During the meeting, the chief minister 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 office read. During the meet, Vijay also requested the Union home ministry to issue appropriate clarification allowing Tamil Nadu's state song Tamil Thai Vazhthu to continue being sung at the beginning of government functions. "The chief minister also stated that the Tamil Thai Vazhthu, the state invocation song, 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. He also flagged 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 farmers." According to news agency ANI, CM Joseph Vijay is also scheduled to meet Vice President CP Radhakrishnan Union home minister Amit Shah, and several senior Union ministers on Thursday. This is Vijay's first visit to Delhi since becoming chief minister on May 10 after party won 108 of the 234 assembly seats. Earlier on Tuesday, Vijay wrote to PM Modi, urging the Centre not to allow the construction of the Mekedatu dam by the Karnataka government. In the letter, Vijay said that the project proposed by Karnataka was in "clear violation" of the Supreme Court's judgment. He also expressed concern over remarks made by Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar. Vijay may stay in Delhi to meet allies the next day. On reports that he may also meet Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, a senior Congress leader said, “Nothing is confirmed as of now.”