Tuesday night, the Metropolitan Police halted a gathering of hundreds outside The Shard, where Chief Minister Joseph Vijay had planned to address a crowd.
A team member announced over a loudspeaker that the program was called off for safety reasons, citing a lack of permission. Fans who had waited in line for hours expressed frustration, with one young supporter noting, “We’ve been waiting for days, and this is unlike the crowds we see in Tamil Nadu.”
Vijay, a former Tamil film star turned government minister, is on a delegation to the UK that has already secured memoranda of understanding worth ₹12,300 crore, including a ₹11,000 crore commitment from Samvardhana Motherson International Limited to invest in Tamil Nadu’s advanced manufacturing sector over the next five years.
The investment drive aims to position the state as Asia's premier technology hub and create over 9,400 high‑value jobs. Opposition leaders have criticized the trip, questioning the political agenda behind the visits.
With the event cancelled, Vijay will resume his UK tour tomorrow, concluding the trip and returning to India on Wednesday. The delegation plans to press on with the remaining meetings, although the safety concerns may prompt a reevaluation of future public appearances.