Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader C Joseph Vijay has sparked widespread discussion after his strong remarks against corruption during a public rally in Karur. Addressing the gathering, Vijay urged citizens to refuse paying bribes and assured them that his government would stand with people who oppose corruption.
Speaking at the rally, Vijay appealed to the public to firmly reject any demand for illegal payments. He said that if anyone asked for a bribe, people should directly refuse and tell them that the chief minister stood with them. His statement received loud applause from supporters, with clips from the speech quickly gaining traction on social media.
Vijay further asserted that no individual involved in corruption, accepting bribes, or misusing power would be allowed to continue such activities under his administration. His comments were widely shared online, with supporters praising his message against corruption and demanding stricter action against officials involved in malpractice.
The remarks came during Vijay’s first official visit to Karur after the tragic stampede at his pre-election rally in 2025, which resulted in the deaths of more than 41 people. During the event, Vijay also addressed the tragedy and questioned whether adequate security arrangements were made despite the expected large crowd.
Criticising the police administration, Vijay said that authorities should have alerted organisers or cancelled the event if crowd management was a concern. He questioned the responsibility for the incident and expressed grief over the loss of lives, particularly children who were among the victims.
Vijay also announced that TVK would build a memorial in Karur in memory of those who lost their lives in the stampede. He said the memorial would help future generations remember the tragedy and ensure that such incidents are not used for political conflicts.
Meanwhile, the ruling DMK has responded with criticism of Vijay’s corruption allegations. Senior DMK leader T K S Elangovan accused the TVK government of facing its own corruption-related questions and referred to allegations made by a lawyer from Vijay’s party regarding internal party matters. The political exchange has added to the ongoing debate between the two parties.
During his Karur visit, Vijay also handed over compassionate appointment orders to members of 31 families affected by the stampede. The beneficiaries received government job appointments across various departments, including education, revenue, police, rural development, and local administration.