London Event for Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Called Off Over Safety Concerns

An event in London featuring Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay was called off on Tuesday after the Metropolitan Police intervened over safety concerns, leaving hundreds of fans disappointed.

Crowds had gathered outside The Shard, the British capital's tallest building, hoping to catch a glimpse of the actor-turned-politician. Some had queued for hours, and a few had been waiting near his hotel since early in the day.

A member of the chief minister's team informed the gathering over a loudspeaker that the programme could not go ahead. "For public safety concerns, we are calling off the programme because we don't have permission due to safety concerns," the team member said.

One young supporter who had camped outside the hotel said the decision was understandable but hard on those who had turned up. "I think it's reasonable but all of these people have been waiting. This is hardly the kind of crowds we see in Tamil Nadu," the fan said.

Vijay is in the United Kingdom at the head of a state delegation seeking investment for Tamil Nadu. Earlier, the Chief Minister's Office said the delegation had signed several memoranda of understanding involving investments worth about Rs 12,300 crore.

The investment push is aimed at establishing Tamil Nadu as a leading advanced manufacturing and technology hub in Asia, and is expected to create more than 9,400 high-value jobs in the state.

The chief minister is scheduled to wrap up his UK visit and return to India on Wednesday.