A scheduled meeting between Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and members of the Tamil community in London was cancelled following directions from local law enforcement agencies.
The meeting was scheduled to take place at The Shard, London’s tallest building, on Tuesday.
Hundreds of fans gathered outside the building hoping to catch a glimpse of the actor-turned-politician, but were left disappointed after the meeting was called off following intervention by the Metropolitan Police, citing safety concerns.
“We would be filled with love and heartfelt enthusiasm to meet the Honorable Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Thiru. C. Joseph Vijay. However, keeping the safety of the public in mind and considering the request of the London Metropolitan Police, an unavoidable situation has arisen where the Honorable Chief Minister and Victorious Leader cannot meet with you," the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) IT Wing said in a post on X.
"Therefore, with affection, we kindly request that no one attempt to meet him,” it said.
The party also appealed to supporters to refrain from waiting at the entrance of the hotel where Vijay is staying or along the route he is expected to travel.
Vijay is leading a state delegation to the UK to attract investments into Tamil Nadu. His visit is scheduled to conclude on Wednesday.
Earlier, the Chief Minister’s Office said the delegation had signed multiple memoranda of understanding involving investments worth around Rs 12,300 crore during the visit.
The investment drive, aimed at positioning Tamil Nadu as Asia’s premier advanced manufacturing and technology hub, is expected to generate more than 9,400 high-value jobs across the state.
Vijay’s UK visit, which included a visit to the Silverstone motor racing circuit in England, has also drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, which questioned whether the trip was primarily aimed at securing investments for the state.
