Gogoi to request Ajmal to withdraw candidate at UPA dinner
NETV Bureau
May 22, New Delhi
Amidst the ongoing political drama on the Rajya Sabha election, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi will request AIUDF President Badruddin Ajmal to withdraw his candidate from the race. Gogoi is likely to make the request at the dinner party hosted by the PM on the 4th anniversary of UPA-2.

Parvez Hashmi appointed AICC Secretary for Assam
NETV Bureau
May 22, Guwahati
The All India Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday appointed Parvez hashmi as the second in command in charge of Assam. Hashmi, a secretary in the AICC will assist Digvijay singh. He replaces Jaidev Jena. Hashmi is a Rajya Sabha MP and presently holds several important portfolios in both the AICC and the Parliament. Meanwhile, Hashmi was scheduled to visit Assam after senior Congress leader Anjan Dutta raised objection to Santius Kujur’s nomination for Rajya sabha seat. However, his visit was postponed as the chief minister is already in Delhi to attend UPA’s anniversary dinner.

BJP tears apart UPA on fourth anniversary
NETV Bureau
May 22, New Delhi
As the UPA-2 government today celebrated its fourth anniversary, main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party came down heavily on it. Accusing the government of overall failures- the BJP called Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh a non-functional leader since all decisions are taken by the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.What are they celebrating? The BJP leaders threw this question on Wednesday as the UPA government at the Center completed 4th year of its second term. BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley held a press conference to target the UPA II and called it the most corrupt government India ever had. Swaraj said the foreign policy in the neighborhood of India has been so bad that even a country like Maldives is showing angry eyes on India. She further said that even resolving the Chinese incursion issue took long time while India could not do much for the rights of Sri Lankan Tamils.On the other hand, accusing the UPA-2 for failing to pass the Lokpal bill, leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said India has not seen such gloom and cynicism as is visible in the present regime.Adding that there is nothing for the UPA to celebrate and slamming the government for a series of massive scandals during the UPA 2 regime, Jaitley said that each scam is bigger than the previous one.

Shashi Kant Sharma to assume as new CAG tomorrow
NETV Bureau
May 22
Shashi Kant Sharma was appointed as the new Comptroller and Auditor General on Tuesday replacing outgoing Vinod Rai. Sharma previously held the post of Defence Secretary. Sharma, an IAS officer from 1976 batch of Bihar cadre, has earlier assumed various important offices during his tenure including director general (acquisition) in Ministry of defence and defence secretary. Sharma, who holds a masters degree in political science from the University of York, will be taking over charge of the CAG from May 23. The 62-year-old Sharma will be administered the oath of office by President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday. Like Vinod Rai, Sharma too has served as secretary in the department of financial services. The CAG is appointed for a term of six years or till the incumbent attains the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party leader and Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan flayed the appointment of Sharma as the CAG terming it as illegal, unconstitutional and likely to be challenged in a court of law. Bhushan's main contention was that Sharma had in the last 10 years held several sensitive positions in the defence ministry that dealt with significant procurements and appointing him as CAG would mean a conflict of interest.