<p>In a sudden development, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) leader Vijayakanth on Sunday said he would lead a team of opposition parties in Tamil Nadu to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to raise several issues related to the state including Karnataka’s move to construct a new dam at Mekedatu.<br /><br /></p>.<p>His announcement came against the backdrop of “emergency” meeting with all political leaders in the state including the Opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M Karunanidhi at his residence to seek support for his move.<br /><br />Vijayakanth also met Congress leaders, including Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president E V K S Elangovan and former union minister P Chidambaram and party spokesperson Kushboo. <br /><br />Emerging out of the 30-minute meeting with the DMK patriarch, Vijayakanth said before leaving for New Delhi, he would meet leaders of all political parties, except the ruling AIADMK. <br /><br />“I would not be meeting AIADMK leaders because the state government has not bothered to listen to the opposition’s demand to convene an all party meeting to discuss the Mekedatu issue,” he told reporters.<br /><br />“But in Karnataka, an all party meeting was held and delegation led by its chief minister is expected to meet the prime minister to press its case for the construction of a new dam,” Vijayakanth said.<br /><br />Claiming that all political leaders have agreed to send their party representative to meet Modi, the DMDK leader said the delegation will also take up other issues— recent killing of 20 woodcutters from Tamil Nadu in Andhra Pradesh, the fishermen issue, Mullaiperiyar dam row with Kerala and also the farmers concerns over the Land Acquisition Bill tabled in Parliament.</p>
<p>In a sudden development, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) leader Vijayakanth on Sunday said he would lead a team of opposition parties in Tamil Nadu to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to raise several issues related to the state including Karnataka’s move to construct a new dam at Mekedatu.<br /><br /></p>.<p>His announcement came against the backdrop of “emergency” meeting with all political leaders in the state including the Opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M Karunanidhi at his residence to seek support for his move.<br /><br />Vijayakanth also met Congress leaders, including Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president E V K S Elangovan and former union minister P Chidambaram and party spokesperson Kushboo. <br /><br />Emerging out of the 30-minute meeting with the DMK patriarch, Vijayakanth said before leaving for New Delhi, he would meet leaders of all political parties, except the ruling AIADMK. <br /><br />“I would not be meeting AIADMK leaders because the state government has not bothered to listen to the opposition’s demand to convene an all party meeting to discuss the Mekedatu issue,” he told reporters.<br /><br />“But in Karnataka, an all party meeting was held and delegation led by its chief minister is expected to meet the prime minister to press its case for the construction of a new dam,” Vijayakanth said.<br /><br />Claiming that all political leaders have agreed to send their party representative to meet Modi, the DMDK leader said the delegation will also take up other issues— recent killing of 20 woodcutters from Tamil Nadu in Andhra Pradesh, the fishermen issue, Mullaiperiyar dam row with Kerala and also the farmers concerns over the Land Acquisition Bill tabled in Parliament.</p>
