CM Vijay’s London event cancelled: What happened and why police raised safety concerns
For public safety concerns, we are calling off the programme because we don't have permission due to safety concerns, a member of the chief minister's team was seen annouuncing over a loudspeaker in videos shared by news agencies.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's planned high-profile event in London was unexpectedly cancelled on Tuesday due to safety concerns raised by the Metropolitan Police. Hundreds of fans had gathered outside The Shard, London's tallest building, to meet Vijay, but the event was ultimately called off after overwhelming crowds formed near the upscale venue.
The CM's team informed attendees via a loudspeaker that the program could not proceed, citing safety issues and the chaotic nature of London's bridge/shard area. Local witnesses noted the difficulty in controlling the massive crowd, which had been queuing for hours outside CM Vijay's hotel. Vijay's trip to the UK, which also included a visit to Silverstone motor racing circuit, aimed to attract investments to Tamil Nadu.
However, opposition parties criticized the costly overseas trip, questioning its primary objective. During the visit, the AIADMK party questioned the necessity of such trips at taxpayers' expense. Despite the cancellation, Vijay's delegation reportedly signed agreements worth ₹12,300 crore in investment during his UK visit, aimed at positioning Tamil Nadu as Asia's premier advanced manufacturing and technology hub. This move is expected to generate over 9,400 high-value jobs for the state.
Written by urgent.news from Live Mint's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
