An actor-turned-politician’s public appearance at The Shard in London was cancelled on Tuesday after Metropolitan Police intervened over safety concerns. Hundreds of fans had queued for hours to see the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, and a member of his team announced via loudspeaker that the event was called off because organisers lacked permission due to the crowd size.
The cancelled event concluded a visit where the Chief Minister led a state delegation to Britain to draw investment into Tamil Nadu’s economy. His office stated the trip secured memoranda of understanding worth around Rs 12,300 crore, which officials project could generate over 9,400 high-value jobs. The largest commitment reportedly came from an Indian auto-components major with UK operations.
During the tour, the Chief Minister met British government officials, investors, and members of the Tamil diaspora. He was scheduled to return to India on Wednesday, following a trip that highlighted his large overseas following and the logistical challenges of his international travel.