Tamil Nadu CM Vijay's London event cancelled over safety concerns

A planned public appearance by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay at The Shard in London was cancelled on Tuesday due to safety concerns after hundreds of fans gathered outside the building without the necessary permission. The Metropolitan Police intervened, leading organizers to call off the event, which left many supporters who had queued for hours disappointed. The cancellation occurred during an official UK investment tour led by Vijay, who is also an actor-turned-politician. A member of the chief minister's team announced the decision over a loudspeaker, stating, "For public safety concerns, we are calling off the programme because we don't have permission due to safety concerns." Fans had assembled outside the luxury hotel and office complex, with some reportedly waiting for hours for a glimpse of the chief minister. One young fan, who had been camped outside Vijay's hotel, acknowledged the safety rationale but noted the scale of the turnout, saying, "This is hardly the kind of crowds we see in Tamil Nadu." The incident unfolded against the backdrop of Vijay's broader mission to attract foreign investment to Tamil Nadu.