Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Wednesday during his first official visit to the national capital after assuming office earlier this month . The meeting, which lasted approximately 25-30 minutes, covered a range of pressing issues concerning the state .
Mekedatu Dam Project: A primary concern
Chief Minister Vijay expressed serious concern over Karnataka’s announcement regarding the proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir project across the Cauvery River. He argued that the move is “completely contrary to the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) and the judgment of the Supreme Court” .
According to a Tamil Nadu government release, the Chief Minister stated that the announcement has caused “deep concern” among farmers in the state. He urged Prime Minister Modi to direct the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Central Water Commission not to grant approval for the project without the consent of co-basin states, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry .
The Mekedatu project, proposed across the Cauvery near the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border, envisages a balancing reservoir with a storage capacity of 67.16 TMC. Tamil Nadu has consistently argued that any new upstream reservoir could affect scheduled water releases to the lower riparian state .
Fishermen arrests by Sri Lankan Navy
The Chief Minister also raised the issue of frequent arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy. According to the petition submitted to the Prime Minister, 12 such arrest incidents have occurred in 2026 alone, with 58 fishermen currently in Sri Lankan custody and 266 fishing boats seized .
Vijay requested the Prime Minister to urge the Government of Sri Lanka to immediately release the fishermen and their boats . Data shows that 288 fishing boats have reportedly been seized according to some sources, highlighting the scale of the ongoing dispute in the Palk Strait region .
Other issues discussed
Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu controversy
The Chief Minister raised the issue of the Tamil invocation song, Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu, traditionally sung at the beginning of government functions in the state. Following a circular issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs in January, the National Song has been sung first at certain government events, creating a protocol dispute .
Vijay requested the Prime Minister to issue a clear directive allowing the Tamil invocation song to be sung at the start of government events, noting that “Tamil Nadu has consistently upheld the dignity and decorum associated with all national symbols” .
Defence projects
The Chief Minister also sought the establishment of the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) unit, in Tamil Nadu. He noted that discussions had been ongoing regarding both the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) design and development centre and CABS in the state .
The meeting marks an important first engagement between the newly elected Tamil Nadu government and the Centre, setting the stage for future collaboration on these critical issues.
