India, Sept. 24 -- Tamil Nadu industries minister S Keerthana on Wednesday hit back at speculation over her absence from chief minister C Joseph Vijay's London visit, saying comments about a person's private health should not become a substitute for scrutiny of their public work.

Keerthana's absence from the London visit triggered a row after DMK functionary's critic Vaishnavi questioned the reference to the minister being away for "four days due to health reasons" and raised menstruation as a possible reason.

"Industrial minister has not come for 4 days due to health reasons, says Aadhav Arjuna! What is the explanation regarding those '4 days'? If it refers to a natural physiological change that occurs for women, like menstruation, the...