
Syed Shahabuddin, convenor of the Babri Masjid Action Committee, today joined the Congress after a meeting with Sonia Gandhi. Shahabuddin, who had been critical of the role of the Narasimha Rao government during the Babri Masjid demolition, said he was 8216;8216;ready to forget history8217;8217; to 8216;8216;heal the wounds of the nation8217;8217;.
Congress spokesperson Kapil Sibal announced Shahabuddin8217;s entry to the party at a briefing here today.
Shahabuddin told reporters he had offered to join the Congress which was 8216;8216;the largest secular party to defeat the politics of deception8217;8217;. Shahabuddin, a three-time Member of Parliament, however, clarified that he was not joining the electoral fray and would confine himself to campaigning for the Congress through out the country.
The former IFS officer said that he was joining the Congress to 8216;8216;heal the wounds of the nation and to re-construct India on the Nehruvian model8217;8217;.