Vijayakanth to raise Tamil Nadu-related issues with Modi

In a sudden development, DMDK founder A. Vijayakanth on Sunday said he would lead a team of opposition parties to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss various issues related to Tamil Nadu.

Vijayakanth, who is leader of opposition in the state assembly, said he would raise several issues pertaining to the state, including Karnataka's move to build a dam at Mekedatu, during his meeting with Modi on Monday.

The DMDK leader made the announcement after meeting several political party leaders including DMK president M. Karunanidhi, state Congress chief E.V.K.S. Elangovan, former union minister P. Chidambaram, Tamil Maanila Congress chief G.K. Vasan, and state Bharatiya Janata Party president Tamilisai Soundararajan.

Vijayakanth said he did not meet leaders of the ruling AIADMK because the state government did not heed the opposition's request to convene an all-party meeting on the Mekedatu issue.

He said the issues that would be discussed with Modi would include the killing of 20 woodcutters from Tamil Nadu by the Andhra Pradesh Police and Mekedatu dam, among others.