File Photo: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa (Press Trust of India)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today said she won't attend the funeral of former President APJ Abdul Kalam in Rameswaram tomorrow owing to "health condition".
"I have great affection and respect for Abdul Kalam. I would like to attend his funeral and pay my respects to him. However, owing to my health condition I am not in a position to travel," she said.
Dr Kalam's funeral will be held in Rameswaram, around 600 km from Chennai.
Finance Minister O Panneerselvam, Electricity Minister Natham R Viswanathan, Housing Minister R Vaithilingam and several other ministers will attend the funeral on behalf of the Tamil Nadu government.
Ms Jayalalithaa said as a mark of respect for Dr Kalam, Thursday would be a public holiday in the state.
She said following a request from Dr Kalam's family, government land had been allotted for burying the mortal remains of the former president who died on Monday in Shillong.