A 40-minute speech covering police philosophy, custodial death accountability, drug prevention, women’s safety, and zero tolerance for criminals regardless of politics — plus a humane moment when Vijay helped an MLA to his feet.
A 40-minute speech covering police philosophy, custodial death accountability, drug prevention, women’s safety and zero tolerance for criminals…
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay delivered a 40-minute speech in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Monday during the debate on the demands for grants for the Police Department — the speech he had specifically promised a week earlier. He set out his government's approach to policing, women's safety and drugs — and shared a humane moment with an Opposition MLA.
Vijay opened his reply with a clear articulation of how he believes policing should function:
He argued that isolated individual crimes should not be treated as evidence of total law-and-order collapse. Many crimes have deeper causes — past enmity, revenge, social pressures, addiction — and the government must address root causes rather than use crime statistics as political ammunition. He quoted the Tamil original directly: “ஒரு தனிப்பட்ட குற்றமும், ஒட்டுமொத்த சட்டம் ஒழுங்கும் ஒன்றல்ல.”
He also addressed custodial violence directly — deaths in police custody, he said, cannot be treated as routine. Magistrate-led inquiries would be conducted and police personnel would not receive special protection because of their position.
On cybercrime: “Crime does not happen only on the streets; it also happens online. It is necessary to identify and prevent crime before it occurs.” Police vacancies will be filled and the force strengthened across both conventional and cybercrime domains.
Vijay stated clearly that political affiliation would not shield criminals. Action would be taken against anyone who commits a crime, regardless of which party they belong to. He warned government employees against corruption — those engaged in bribery damage not only their own reputation but that of their entire family — and said enforcement agencies would act without hesitation.
His clearest statement on anti-corruption: “We will not touch even a single paisa of the people's money; nor will we spare those who did.”
Vijay identified the drug culture and youth violence as structural problems requiring prevention rather than political blame. He highlighted specific enforcement figures: in Chennai alone, 330 NDPS cases had been registered and 556 people arrested in the previous three months. Anti-drug squads are operational in all 37 districts.
On student violence and ragging, he said the government should not simply present crime data in the Assembly — it should ask why young people are becoming violent, and address the psychological, social and environmental factors driving that behaviour. Prevention must come before reaction.
As tensions mounted and DMK members sat on the floor of the House in protest, one of the day's most discussed moments was distinctly non-political. Vijay lent a helping hand to DMK MLA Durai Chandrasekar, who found it difficult to get up after sitting on the floor in protest. The gesture drew attention as a demonstration of personal decency even amid fierce political confrontation. Vijay also gestured to K. N. Nehru's request to allow Udhayanidhi to respond — signalling that the decision rested with the Speaker, not him.
Vijay also announced under Rule 110 on September 7 a reform of Tamil Nadu's property registration system: 25 model registration hubs will be created across the state, and presence-less (online) registration will be expanded — mandatory for all first-sale apartment and plot documents from September 15, 2026 and extended further from October 15. The reform builds on the Presenceless Registration service Vijay had launched on August 17. It means property buyers can register new flat and plot purchases fully online without visiting a Sub-Registrar office.