Chennai: Chief minister C Joseph Vijay made his first Independence Day speech a clarion call against corruption. “Saving Tamil Nadu from corruption and bribery is akin to achieving freedom,” he said, adding that his govt was on “mission mode” to eradicate corruption.“We want our people to develop zero tolerance towards corruption. We appeal to officials and people of Tamil Nadu to make our state corruption-free,” Vijay said at the 386-year-old Fort St George on Saturday. He thanked TN people and “Gen Z young lion force” for the opportunity.People approaching govt offices should be treated with dignity, Vijay said. “We have told officials to treat people with kindness and not make them run from pillar to post.”Freedom, self-respect, equal rights, equal opportunity and a dignified life is for all, said Vijay, who saluted the people of Tamil Nadu for “rejecting caste and religious considerations, money and muscle power, and giving his govt an overwhelming mandate to establish a people-centric government based on social justice”.Turning to the people’s role in his govt, Vijay said they had voted for their “brother and son, Vijay” and made him chief minister, but their responsibility did not end with voting. He urged people to continue to be with him to execute good schemes for them, and to defeat the “powers and conspiracies” working against the govt. “What worry do I have when you’re with me,” he said.“The chief minister’s post represent the eight crore people of Tamil Nadu. People are the rulers and those in govt their servants,” he said, adding that TVK govt functioned on the principle of Pirappokkum Ella Uyirkkum (everyone is born equal), with transparency and people’s welfare as its foremost priorities. “There should be no compromise when it comes to public life. People’s welfare is the most important,” he said.On Centre-state relations, Vijay said Tamil Nadu would maintain administrative coordination with Union govt, but would oppose policies that were against the interests of the state. The govt would continue existing welfare schemes such as Amma Unavagam and expand the breakfast scheme.Vijay announced welfare hikes for ex-servicemen and their families. He said Tamil Nadu’s economy would be taken to $1.5 trillion by 2036 and pledged to make the state comparable with leading countries globally.Meanwhile, a 53-year-old police constable, A Dharmaraj, attached to the RC Avadi Battalion died after collapsing during the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the State Secretariat in Chennai on Saturday
