Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Meets PM Modi, Raises Key State Demands Including Mekedatu Issue and DRDO Centre Proposal

New Delhi : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Wednesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital during his first official visit to New Delhi after assuming office earlier this month. The 20-minute meeting covered a range of issues concerning Tamil Nadu, including inter-state water disputes, cultural representation, and defence infrastructure development.

During the meeting, CM Vijay expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for facilitating the return of ancient copper plates recently brought back from Holland, calling it an important step in preserving Tamil Nadu’s cultural heritage. The chief minister also used the opportunity to raise several pressing administrative and policy-related matters affecting the state.

One of the key issues discussed was the proposed Mekedatu dam project by Karnataka. Vijay urged the Prime Minister to intervene and ensure that no unilateral move is taken by the neighbouring state that could impact Tamil Nadu’s water availability. He emphasised that such a project, located near the inter-state border, would violate the spirit of earlier decisions made by the Cauvery Water Tribunal as well as the Supreme Court’s directives on Cauvery water sharing.

The chief minister pointed out that Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had recently announced plans to submit a revised detailed project report (DPR) for the Mekedatu project to the Union government. This has already triggered strong objections from Tamil Nadu, where concerns over downstream water flow remain a sensitive political and agricultural issue.

Vijay urged PM Modi to direct the Union Jal Shakti Ministry to refrain from granting approval for the project, stressing that any such move without consensus would escalate inter-state tensions. The long-standing Cauvery water dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka has historically been a flashpoint between the two states, and Vijay’s intervention marks a continuation of Tamil Nadu’s firm stance on the issue.

Another significant request made by the chief minister was regarding cultural protocol at official government events. Vijay sought permission for the Tamil state anthem to be played at the beginning of government programmes in Tamil Nadu. His request comes in the backdrop of a recent Union Home Ministry directive issued in January, which stated that all six stanzas of “Vande Mataram” should be sung when both the national song and national anthem are played together.

Interestingly, during Vijay’s oath-taking ceremony earlier, “Vande Mataram” was sung in full, followed by the national anthem “Jana Gana Mana” and the Tamil state song “Tamil Thai Vazhthu”, reflecting a blend of national and regional cultural traditions.

In addition, Vijay also requested the establishment of the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Centre for Airborne Systems in Tamil Nadu. He said such a facility would significantly enhance the state’s role in India’s defence research ecosystem while generating high-skilled employment opportunities for local youth.

CM Vijay, who also leads the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), had recently won a trust vote on May 13 with support from multiple opposition and regional parties, including Congress, CPI, CPI(M), VCK, and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). His party emerged as the largest in the assembly with 108 seats, while reports also indicated that a section of AIADMK MLAs extended support to his government during the vote.

The meeting between Vijay and PM Modi is being seen as an important early engagement between the newly elected Tamil Nadu leadership and the Union government, with several key issues now expected to move into inter-governmental discussions in the coming weeks.