Stepping up the offensive on Dalit scholar suicide issue, Rahul Gandhi on Saturday commenced a day-long fast along with agitating students of Hyderabad Central University here after participating in a candle light vigil in the wee hours.
“Rahulji is on fast,” NSUI President Roji M John said. Rahul, who is visiting the campus for the second time in as many weeks, tweeted, “I am here today at the request of Rohith’s friends and family, to stand with them in their fight for justice.
“A young life full of dreams and aspirations was cut short. We owe it to him, to the memory of (Mahatma) Gandhiji and to every single Indian student who dreams of an India free from prejudice and injustice,” he said in another tweet.
Rohith’s mother Radhika and brother Raju were also present at the protest site.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi late on Friday night reached the University of Hyderabad and participated in a candle light march by the students to mark the birth anniversary of Rohith Vemula, a Dalit research scholar who committed suicide two weeks ago.
Rahul, who landed at Hyderabad airport around midnight, drove straight to the university to express solidarity with the students protesting over the suicide.
WATCH: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi joins hunger strike in University of Hyderabadhttps://t.co/TrMitlQUQy
— ANI (@ANI_news) January 30, 2016
This is the second time in less than two weeks that the Congress leader is visiting the campus to meet and address the students.
He will spend the night with the students on the campus and participate in the programmes organised by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) for social justice on Saturday.
Immediately after reaching the shopping complex where students are staging the protest for the last 12 days, Rahul paid tributes to Rohith at the memorial constructed by the students. He then sat with Rohith’s mother, brother and other students.
The students are demanding action against Vice-Chancellor P. Appa Rao and others responsible for the suicide of Rohith Vemula.
As soon as the Congress MP’s convoy reached the main gate of the university, activists of ABVP tried to stop him. They were protesting his visit to the campus. Police had to use mild force to disperse the protesters.
Rahul had visited the campus on January 19, two days after Rohith committed suicide. He had also interacted with the mother of Rohith and four other Dalit students who are on protest for nearly a month.
The MP had demanded action against the vice chancellor, central ministers and others responsible for the student’s suicide.