CHENNAI: A day after Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa skipped an Iftar party citing "sudden illness," DMK chief M Karunanidhi on Thursday said her statement about her health condition could not be ignored.

"Information about her illness should have been made public since people would be eager to know about it," Karunanidhi said.

The Tamil Nadu government should formally provide the details related to Jayalalithaa's illness, he said.

"If the chief minister suffers from an illness, can it be brushed aside,"Karunanidhi asked in a statement.

"Should not the government formally announce the details related to her illness? Will not the people be interested to know about it?" he asked.

Karunanidhi has cited the recent cancellation of Jayalalithaa's meeting with Adani group representatives, her skipping the iftar party and a few other occasions when her appointments were suddenly cancelled without official reasons being accorded

The AIADMK chief on Wednesday said, "I am unable to come to the Iftar party due to a sudden illness though it is my wish to participate in it (organised by AIADMK) as usual."

Jayalalithaa's speech was read out by finance minister O Panneerselvam during the event. In her speech copy, she praised Islam, and narrated an anecdote which spoke of Prophet Mohammed's virtues.

Karunanidhi described how a grand reception replete with decorative banners to welcome Jayalalithaa to the function had been put up.

"Since Jayalalithaa herself had invited Muslim leaders and alliance party heads had turned up for the event. The person, who invited them, however, did not turn up," he said.