Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, urged him to allow the state government to begin its official duties with a Tamil prayer song, and raised concerns over Karnataka’s stance on the inter-state Mekedatu Dam and the arrest of local fishermen by the Sri Lanka Navy.
This is the first meeting between Vijay and Modi after his party, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), won the state elections earlier this month.
Among Vijay’s key demands to Modi is that the Tamil eulogy song, also called the state anthem, ‘Tamil Thai Vaazhthu’, be played first at government functions.
“The Chief Minister noted that the state anthem, ‘Tamil Thai Vaazhthu’, has always been sung at the beginning of all government functions held in Tamil Nadu. However, following a memorandum issued by the Home Ministry in January this year, the national song is being sung first on some specified government functions,” a state government statement on the meeting said.
The statement added: “In light of this situation, the Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Interior to issue appropriate clarifications regarding the singing of the state anthem when government functions begin.”
The singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ before the Tamil prayer song recently sparked a debate in the state over cultural identity and the protocol to be followed at government functions.
Political parties including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Left criticized the rendition of the patriotic song ‘Vande Mataram’ during Vijay’s swearing-in ceremony before Governor Rajendra Arlikar earlier this month.
On the issue of Mekedatu Dam, Vijay raised Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivkumar’s recent comment that his state is planning to lay the foundation stone for the dam on the Cauvery river. Vijay said the Karnataka government’s decision to do so was “completely contradictory” to the final judgment of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the Supreme Court ruling.
Vijay asked Modi to instruct the Jal Shakti Ministry and the Central Water Commission not to allow the project to start without the approval of the common basin states – Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.
Highlighting the arrest of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lanka Navy, Vijay told Modi that as of May, 58 Indian fishermen and 266 boats were detained in the island nation.
“The Prime Minister urged the Prime Minister to ensure that the Government of India puts pressure on the Sri Lankan Government for the immediate release of the fishermen and their boats,” the statement read.
