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Aarushi's parents to face trial: SC

Unease within BJP over Kushwaha's induction grows

New Delhi: Unease within the BJP over the induction of tainted former BSP leader Babu Singh Kushwaha, who is facing CBI inquiry in the Rs 2,000-crore NRHM scam, has grown further with more leaders joining the chorus against the decision.

Maneka Gandhi, BJP MP from Aaonla in Uttar Pradesh, criticised the decision to induct Kushwaha a day after leaders like Yogi Adityanath and Kirti Azad openly criticised the move to bring into the party fold a man the party was targeting for involvement in the NRHM scam.

"Taking into the party people who have been thrown out by the BSP does not show us in good light. Nobody was consulted before inducting him. These leaders were reaping illegal benefits as ministers and no work was done," Gandhi said.

There are reports that firebrand leader Uma Bharti is also not happy with Kushwaha's induction. However, she refused to comment, saying she did not want to discuss such matters with the media and she would air her views only to the party.

Bharti is also miffed that her candidates are not being accommodated in ticket distribution. Other than Kushwaha, she is opposed to the induction of Bhadshah Singh who had fallen out with her during the 2002 elections in Uttar Pradesh.

Senior leaders L. K. Advani, Sushma Swaraj and Murli Manohar Joshi have already opposed the decision.

With a growing number of leaders opposing Kushwaha's induction, rumours were thick that the decision may be revoked. But sources close to party president Nitin Gadkari said he was likely to stick to his decision on the argument that Kushwaha would bring OBC votes to the party.

BJP leader Yashwant Sinha defended the decision, saying Kushwaha had come as a "whistleblower" to the party and would expose the deeds of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati. — PTI 

2nd Test: Humiliating innings defeat for India

SYDNEY: Australia humbled India by an innings and 68 runs in the second cricket Test to take an unassailable 2-0 lead as Sachin Tendulkar missed yet another opportunity to get the century of international centuries here today.

India lost the first Test at the MCG by 122 runs and now for the second successive time, they have lost with more than a day to spare. They have now suffered the ignominy of losing as many as six consecutive Test matches on foreign soil.

Resuming at 114 for 2, India were all out for 400 with 25-odd overs of the fourth day's play still remaining.

There were as many as four half centuries in the Indian innings — Gautam Gambhir (83), Sachin Tendulkar (80), VVS Laxman (66) and Ravichandran Ashwin (62) —  yet none produced a gritty effort which could take the match into the fifth day.

Tendulkar again came close to the historic milestone of 100 international centuries but was dismissed by part-timer Michael Clarke to break a few million Indian hearts.

Even though the visitors chalk up 400 runs in their second innings, 114 runs came for the last three wickets by when the match was as good as over.

Ben Hilfenhaus ripped the heart out of India's batting, claiming Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Laxman and Mahendra Singh Dhoni as his victims for figures of 5 for 106.

Peter Siddle took 2 for 88, while James Pattinson, Michael Clarke and Nathan Lyon shared the other three wickets.

The two teams will now travel to Perth for the third Test beginning January 13.— PTI