Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has taken a strong stand against corruption, saying that no one involved in bribery, corruption, or misuse of power will be allowed to continue such activities in the state. Speaking at a public rally in Karur, Vijay urged people not to pay bribes if anyone demands money for government work.

Vijay asks people to refuse bribes

Addressing the crowd, Vijay encouraged people to stand up against corruption and assured them of his support.

“When someone asks you for a bribe, tell them directly that you won’t give it. I will be with you. Even after that if someone forces you, tell them, ‘our son, our brother, our Vijay is the one ruling this state.’ Tell them very strongly.”

He added, “When you are with me, not a single person involved in corruption, taking bribes or misusing power will be able to continue such acts.”

The rally in Karur was Vijay’s first visit to the district since the 2025 stampede, which claimed the lives of more than 41 people during his pre-election rally.

DMK targets Vijay over corruption claims

The ruling DMK criticised Vijay’s remarks. Senior DMK leader T.K.S. Elangovan alleged that members of Vijay’s own party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), were facing corruption allegations.

He said a lawyer from TVK had filed a court case claiming that a senior party leader and the party’s general secretary accepted bribes ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 20 lakh in exchange for appointing party lawyers.

Elangovan said these allegations came from within Vijay’s own party and suggested that the chief minister should respond to them.

Vijay blames police for Karur stampede

Vijay also spoke about the 2025 Karur stampede, expressing grief over the lives lost and criticising the police for failing to manage the large crowd.

He said the police never warned him that the crowd could become unmanageable. “After finishing the Namakkal meeting, when we were coming to Karur, couldn’t the Karur police have alerted us? They could have cancelled the meeting if they felt the crowd could not be controlled. They had every right to do so. Instead, they brought us to the venue. I believed them completely and even thanked the police officers that day. I never imagined such a tragedy would happen.”

Questioning the arrangements, he said, “Who is responsible for all this? Who gave the orders? People, I ask you, was adequate police protection provided for such a huge crowd?”

He also said, “If my picture appeared on television, children would smile and call me ‘Vijay uncle’. We lost those innocent children who were like God. Even while I was grieving, people mocked me and blamed me, asking why I had ‘run away and hidden’.”

Memorial to honour victims

Vijay announced that TVK will build a memorial in Karur to honour those who died in the stampede. He said the memorial would help future generations remember the tragedy and ensure that such incidents are never politicised.

“In order to make the coming generation aware of the conspiracy and plot against us, so that no one even thinks of another political conspiracy, we announce that a memorial will be built in Karur on behalf of our TVK.”

Jobs given to affected families

Vijay also handed over compassionate appointment orders to members of 31 families affected by the stampede.

The family members received jobs such as junior assistant, office assistant, and night watchman in various government departments, including school education, revenue, rural development, urban affairs, police, registration, town panchayats, and the Karur Collectorate.