Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay launched a sharp attack on the opposition inside the state assembly on Monday, and used the session to make a firm and direct declaration about the safety of women.
In the line of Anna, MGR and NTR
Addressing the assembly, CM Vijay said that the people of Tamil Nadu had earlier handed their mandate to leaders like Anna, MGR and NTR, and that the same mandate had now come to him. He credited his political victory directly to women voters, saying their role in his success had been the most significant.
Zero tolerance for abusive language against women
CM Vijay told the assembly, "Women are the main reason behind my political victory." He went on to make clear that he would not tolerate any kind of abusive language directed at women. He said political criticism can and should be sharp, but no insulting remark aimed at women would be accepted.
Serious corruption charges against the DMK
During the same session, CM Vijay turned his attack directly on the DMK. He alleged that former minister Senthil Balaji and his associates extorted amounts ranging from Rs 10 to Rs 100 from every TASMAC liquor shop across the state. According to Vijay, this group was known as the Karur gang and carried out the corruption in a fully planned, systematic manner. The Chief Minister further said that wherever the DMK has had a presence, wrongdoing has invariably followed.
Citing the Sarkaria Commission and the ED's allegations
CM Vijay said the DMK had challenged him to open the files of three departments. He said he had already made it clear that corruption took place in these departments during the DMK government's tenure. Before that, he said, he wanted to read the report of the Sarkaria Commission, set up in 1988, which had examined the corruption that took place under the DMK government of that period. The commission had alleged in its report that former Chief Minister Karunanidhi had misused his position as Chief Minister. CM Vijay further said that the Enforcement Directorate, or ED, had also alleged that the DMK carried out corruption through party funds. According to the ED, in the previous government, Chief Minister MK Stalin, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and minister Senthil Balaji had collected money in the name of party funds.
