India, Aug. 20 -- Union home minister Amit Shah chaired the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting at Kovalam near Chennai on Thursday, with chief ministers of the five southern states taking part in discussions on inter-state and Centre-state issues.

Shah chairs the meeting at Kovalam The council met at a seaside resort on the outskirts of Chennai, with Shah presiding as chairman. Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay, the council's vice chairman, felicitated him at the start of proceedings.

Vijay's first meeting with Shah as CM Vijay had called on Shah on Wednesday night, described by officials as a courtesy visit and his first interaction with the home minister since taking charge as chief minister.

Shivakumar demands 1971 census ba...