(S.Ravi Seshu)
Former Minister Alimineti Uma, wife of the slain Home Minister Madhava Reddy, of Telugu Desam Party allegedly prominently figured in the list of politicians close to ex-Maoist-turned-mafia don Nayeemuddin, who was killed in police firing on August 8.

Media reports suggest that Uma had given shelter to Nayeem to avenge the killing of her husband by People’s War Group in a midnight operation on March 7, 2000. Quoting Intelligence officials, the reports revealed that Uma engaged Nayeem to settle scores against her enemies and they were in constant touch.

In response to these reports, Uma called for a press conference in Bhongir and refuted the allegation and made it clear that she had never seen Nayeem. She alleged that government is deliberately trying to fix her in this case. She demanded that the government should make her call data public to show her innocence.

“There is a ploy to defame my family. They are dragging my name to save some prominent persons in this case. We don’t have this nasty culture of murderous politics,” she said adding that Chief Minister should give an explanation on this. She demanded a judicial inquiry into the episode to bring out facts of the matter. Uma also referred to Times of India for mentioning her name in a report.

Uma’s son Sandeep Reddy alleged that the government is trying to trouble his family by giving false leaks to the media. He observed that land ‘dandaas’ started after the Congress came to power in 2004.

The Telugu Desam State Working President Revanth Reddy strongly batted for Uma’s family and made it clear that he didn’t have trust on Special Investigation Team (SIT). He asked the government to come out with facts in Nayeem’s encounter issue. Taking strong objection to the media’s pro-government stand, Reddy said that TDP would stand with the respectable family of Uma.

He blasted the media for biased coverage.