Rohith Vemula suicide: Rahul Gandhi joins hunger strike at Hyderabad University

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday re-joined the protest against the suicide of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula with the students at Hyderabad Central University and participated in the mass hunger strike.

Former Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma also joined Rahul and the students at the protest site.

Sitting on a podium with a garland around his neck, Rahul was seen interacting the four students who had been expelled along with Rohith.

In a surprise visit, the Congress leader had joined a candle vigil at the University last night, joined the students in the protest.

However, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has called for a shutdown of colleges in Telangana, protesting against the "politics over dead bodies" being played by Rahul.

Around 50 ABVP members were detained last night as they took to the streets protesting against the Congress vice president's visit.

Rahul had earlier gone to Hyderabad on January 18, a day after Vemula was found hanging in a hostel room, and met the research scholar's family and companions.