Chennai: On the occasion of the country’s 80th Independence Day, Chief Minister Vijay hoisted the national flag at the ramparts of Fort St. George in Chennai.
Earlier, Chief Minister Vijay arrived at Fort St. George surrounded by police vehicles. He was welcomed by officials including the Chief Secretary. Following this, the Chief Secretary introduced the senior officers of the three armed forces to Chief Minister Vijay.
Subsequently, Chief Minister Vijay was accorded a police parade salute. After reviewing the parade, Chief Minister Vijay greeted with folded hands everyone who had come to attend the Independence Day celebration, including the Speaker, ministers, and senior officials.
Following this, the Chief Minister went to the fort ramparts, hoisted the national flag, and paid respects to the flag. The national anthem was played then.
At the event, Chief Minister Vijay’s mother Shobana, father Chandrasekhar, actress Trisha, and others took part.
Delivering the special address at the event, Chief Minister Vijay said, “Happy Independence Day to everyone. My salute to every freedom fighter who sacrificed their lives, property, and livelihood to win us freedom, whether they are famous or unknown.
The very thought that we are enslaved brings a sense of unity among the people. Everyone begins to think alike and come together. It is in such a place where people can unite that caste breaks, religion breaks, and everything else—language, race, and all—breaks and crumbles.
True freedom is what is gained from a place where such things can break and crumble. That is how we gained our freedom on August 15, 1947, under the leadership of our Mahatma Gandhi. Today, we are holding on tightly to that freedom and gradually moving forward. It is also the duty of all of us to take this progress to the next stage.
Saving our Tamil Nadu from bribery and corruption is also something equivalent to freedom. Our government has been functioning with that very goal in mind.
In this 386-year-old fort, on this 80th Independence Day, you have given me the opportunity to hoist the national flag and address you all. For that, I express my heartfelt gratitude to my Tamil relatives across the world, to the people of Tamil Nadu, and to my comrades in the young lion brigade of Jhansi.
It is based on the principle that all living beings are equal at birth that we have been implementing in Tamil Nadu a transparent, honest, and genuine administration rooted in women’s safety and social justice, free from bribery and corruption and from a drug culture.
There should be no compromise in public life; the welfare of the people is what matters most. It is on that basis that the TVK government has been functioning. On the same basis, in people’s welfare schemes, we are administratively cooperating with the Central Government. At the same time, in matters concerning Tamil Nadu’s welfare, the TVK government will always oppose the Central Government’s decisions that go against the state government. There is no differing opinion on that.
Our government is continuing the welfare schemes introduced during previous administrations. For example, the Amma Canteen scheme. We are further improving this scheme. Likewise, we are expanding the breakfast scheme from Class 6 to Class 8 and are set to launch it on September 17, Periyar’s birthday,” he said.
