Monday, Nov 03: CHENNAI: There is an apprehension among the people of Tamil Nadu that the money and relief materials will be diverted to the LTTE which has been using Tamils as a shield in the war against the Sri Lankan Army, AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa said on Sunday.

"It is a genuine apprehension and I share it," she said in a statement.

Ms. Jayalalithaa said petrol and other things were being smuggled to the LTTE from Tamil Nadu regularly and the relief materials would also eventually reach them.

"The funds and relief materials will never go the Tamils. People fear that the problems of the Sri Lankan Tamils would increase," she added.

In a separate statement she said the Madurai City unit of the Jayalalithaa Peravai would hold demonstrations to protest against the power crisis.

"There are around 6 thousand small scale industries in Jaihindpuram, Puthoor, Anuppanadi, Chellu and Krishnapuram. These industries and textile units are facing a threat of closure because of power crisis," she said.(The Hindu)