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Jayalalithaa not to attend Kalam's funeral due to ill-health

Jayalalithaa has deputed finance minister O Panneerselvam, electricity minister Natham R Viswanathan, housing minister R Vaithilingam and several other ministers to participate in the funeral of former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.

Updated on: Jul 29, 2015, 11:56:13 IST
Hindustan Times | By , Chennai
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Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday declared a public holiday on Thursday when the cremation of former president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam is to take place at Rameshwaram, his birthplace.

Tamil-Nadu-chief-minister-J-Jayalalithaa-HT-File-Photo
Tamil-Nadu-chief-minister-J-Jayalalithaa-HT-File-Photo

Jayalalithaa also expressed her inability to attend the funeral owing to her health condition.

In a statement issued here Jayalalithaa said, “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 has deputed finance minister O Panneerselvam, electricity minister Natham R Viswanathan, housing minister R Vaithilingam and several other ministers to participate in the funeral.

Jayalalithaa said the government accepted plea of Kalam’s family and allotted land for burying the moral remains of the former president.

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