India

BJP Criticises Tamil Nadu CM Vijay’s London Visit as ‘Pleasure Tour’ and Claims Investment Claims Are False

By HT News Desk

BJP leader Nainar Nagendran said on Wednesday that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s recent trip to London was a "pleasure tour" and that the state government was presenting existing companies as new investments secured during the visit. Nagendran, speaking to reporters in Chennai, alleged that the government was misrepresenting already existing companies as new industrial investments. He also criticised the proposed relocation of the Tamil Nadu Secretariat to Pattinapakkam, saying it could harm fishermen’s interests. Vijay’s London event was cancelled after the Metropolitan Police raised public safety concerns. The Tamil Nadu government had initially announced investment commitments of about ₹12,300 crore from agreements signed during Vijay’s visit, with projects expected to create around 10,000 jobs. Commitments included a ₹11,000 crore MoU from Samvardhana Motherson, a ₹1,000 crore agreement from EY for a Global Capability Centre in Chennai, a ₹600‑job expansion by Sweden‑based Sigma Technology Group, a ₹300‑crore MoU from UK‑based Wilson Power Solutions for a unit in Tiruvallur, and a separate ₹3,000 crore letter of intent from an unnamed European auto‑parts company, bringing total commitments to about ₹15,300 crore. The state also highlighted a ₹2,500 crore MoU with Ashok Leyland signed at the VETTRI Tamil Nadu Investors Conference in August.