Why Did Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Thank PM Modi? Put Forward THESE Demands

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital, Delhi, on Wednesday. This marks Vijay's first meeting with the Prime Minister since assuming the office of Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu earlier this month, following the state assembly elections. In a post on 'X', the Prime Minister's Office stated, "Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay met Prime Minister Narendra Modi."

How long did the meeting last?

The meeting between PM Modi and Vijay lasted for approximately 20 minutes. During the meeting, Vijay thanked PM Modi for the recent repatriation of ancient copper plates from the Netherlands. Additionally, he put forward requests regarding two specific issues. His primary request to Prime Minister Modi was for permission to play the State Anthem at the commencement of government programs. This request stems from an order issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in January, which stipulated that whenever the National Song and the National Anthem are played together, all six stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' must be sung first.

Furthermore, Vijay presented another demand to PM Modi concerning the arrest of fishermen from Tamil Nadu. The Chief Minister expressed deep concern over the rising incidents of Tamil Nadu fishermen being arrested and harassed by the Sri Lankan Navy. He highlighted that in the year 2026 alone, there have been 12 such incidents of arrest; currently, 58 fishermen remain in Sri Lankan custody, and 266 fishing boats have been seized. He urged the Prime Minister to impress upon the Sri Lankan government the need to immediately release these fishermen and their boats.

Where was the Meeting Held?

The meeting between the two leaders took place for about 20 minutes at the new Prime Minister's Office complex, 'Seva Teerth'. Following the meeting, the Prime Minister's Office shared details of the interaction on social media, accompanied by a photograph of the two leaders. This meeting comes at a juncture when both the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central Government and the new leadership of Tamil Nadu are actively engaged in recalibrating their respective political equations. Vijay also met with President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan is scheduled to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.