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Marking his first Independence Day speech as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, C Joseph Vijay said his government would “defeat the forces and conspiracies” working against it.
“We all have cast our votes. You have elected your brother, your son, and made me the Chief Minister. From now on, all of you must continue to stand with our government. Only then we will be able to take good schemes and initiatives to the people,” Vijay said.
“I, and everyone here, are servants of the people. We will defeat the forces and conspiracies working against our government,” he added.
“Administratively, we are cooperating with the Union government, but ideologically, we continue to oppose its policies,” he said.
He also reiterated his government’s commitment to protecting Tamil Nadu’s interests and state rights, saying anything that affected the state's interests or rights would be opposed.
“It is our duty to protect Tamil Nadu from bribery and corruption. That is what our government is working towards,” he said.
Vijay said his government was working towards establishing an honest and transparent administration and that there should be no compromise in public life.
He said his government would continue schemes introduced by previous governments, including Amma Unavagam, introduced by former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, and the Breakfast scheme for school students, introduced by former CM MK Stalin.
Vijay also announced that a gold ring gift scheme for newborns would be launched on September 15, marking the birth anniversary of former CM CN Annadurai.
The assistance for disabled ex-servicemen has been increased from Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000, while the monthly assistance for freedom fighters has been increased to Rs 23,000, he said.