Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay on Friday asserted that there was no need to convene an all-party meeting on the contentious Mekedatu dam project, stating that his government had already communicated its position to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and would not compromise on the state’s rights over the Cauvery river waters.

Addressing the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Vijay urged political parties not to politicise the long-standing inter-state river dispute.

Government has already conveyed its stand

“There is no need to convene an all-party meeting. Please do not play politics on the Mekedatu dam issue. Whatever our stand may be, we have expressed it through a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Vijay said.

He reiterated that his government would firmly protect Tamil Nadu’s rights over the Cauvery waters and oppose the proposed Mekedatu project.

“Our government will not compromise on its rights regarding the river water issue or the Mekedatu dam issue,” he added.

Calls for legal approach

The Chief Minister said the Cauvery dispute required careful handling and stressed that Tamil Nadu remained committed to resolving the issue through legal means.

“We are firm on dealing with the Cauvery issue legally. There is no change in that stand,” he said, while adding that he did not wish to indulge in “cheap politics” over the sensitive matter.

Vijay also recalled that political parties in Tamil Nadu have been discussing the Cauvery dispute since 1969 and emphasised the need for a responsible approach.

Proposed talks with Karnataka

The Chief Minister revealed that he had considered travelling to Bengaluru to hold discussions with the Karnataka government in the hope of finding an amicable solution to the dispute.

He said he had received varied opinions on the proposal but maintained that dialogue should not be ruled out.

“Even countries that are sworn enemies hold dialogue to resolve disputes. For the sake of the people of Tamil Nadu, I was prepared to bear criticism if it helped protect the state’s interests,” Vijay said.

He clarified that any dialogue with Karnataka would not alter Tamil Nadu’s legal position on the Cauvery water-sharing dispute.