Vaiko accuses Centre, Karnataka of betraying Tamil Nadu over Mekedatu issue

MDMK general secretary Vaiko on Sunday alleged that the BJP government in the Centre and Congress government in Karnataka have joined hands to betray Tamil Nadu over the Mekedatu issue.Addressing the media in Tirunelveli, he criticised Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar for speaking arrogantly about going ahead with the project without respecting the law. He further urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to remain vigilant on the issue. “The MDMK would announce its stand on the Mekedatu issue at its executive committee meeting scheduled to be held in Tenkasi,” he said.He alleged that corruption was rampant during both the previous AIADMK government led by Edappadi K Palaniswami and DMK government led by M.K. Stalin. Claiming that commissions had been fixed at specific percentages in various departments, he said that even teachers and nurses had to pay bribes amounting to several thousand rupees to secure transfers. However, the present government led by Mr. Vijay follows a policy of integrity, he noted.Drawing a parallel with the burning of the Jaffna Public Library in Sri Lanka by Sinhalese rioters, Mr. Vaiko alleged that irregularities and corruption had taken place at Periyar Arivulagam in Coimbatore. He said that the previous DMK government led by M.K. Stalin should take responsibility for the alleged irregularities, describing the incident as a major attack on the world of knowledge and learning. He demanded that a committee be constituted to investigate the matter and stringent punishment be imposed on everyone found responsible.He further expressed confidence that the alliance led by Chief Minister Joseph Vijay would register a landslide victory in the upcoming by-elections as well as the next assembly elections. Published - November 16, 2026 12:44 am IST