Naveen Jindal holds Cong hand

Noted industrialist Naveen Jindal on Friday joined the Congress amid speculation that he could be given a ticket to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Haryana. Saying that it was an 8220;important day8221; in his life, Jindal stressed he 8220;deeply respected Vajpayee8221; as the Prime Minister but added that he chose the Congress because of its 8220;national and secular8221; character. Jindal, who is known for his campaign for lifting restrictions on the hoisting of the national tricolour by common people, brushed aside the issue of foreign origin of party president Sonia Gandhi. Welcoming Jindal into the party, Congress leader Salman Khurshid and spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said that it would herald the beginning of the entry of young entrepreneurs in the party. PTI