Dhinakaran, Vasan urge Vijay to protect interests of T.N. farmers in Mekedatu issue

T. T. V. Dhinakaran. File | Photo Credit: Johan Sathyadas J AMMK founder T.T.V. Dhinakaran on Sunday (November 15, 2026) accused Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay of shedding crocodile tears over the Mekedatu dam issue and said the latter had to choose between his party’s alliance with the Congress and the livelihoods of Tamil Nadu farmers.Also read | Furore over the Mekedatu projectIn a statement, Mr. Dhinakaran accused Mr. Vijay of failing to discharge his responsibility to protect farmers’ livelihoods for the sake of retaining power, alleging this had emboldened Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to persist with the Mekedatu project.Condemning Mr. Shivakumar’s remarks on constructing the dam across the Cauvery, Mr. Dhinakaran urged Mr. Vijay to exert political pressure through the Congress leadership to stop the project, warning failure to do so would amount to a betrayal of Tamil Nadu farmers.Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) leader G.K. Vasan also criticised Mr. Shivakumar’s remarks on constructing the Mekedatu dam, stating his demand for the Centre’s support and his interpretation of the Supreme Court’s verdict were unacceptable.In a statement, Mr. Vasan said Karnataka’s efforts to construct the dam amounted to an infringement of Tamil Nadu’s rights. The Mekedatu water issue was not merely a crop-related concern but a matter of survival for farmers in Tamil Nadu, he said. Published - November 15, 2026 01:37 pm IST