Dalit scholar suicide: People who crushed Rohith blocking path to freedom and progress, says Rahul Gandhi
Earlier, late night on Friday, Rahul sat for two and half hours, along with the students of Hyderabad Central University (HCU) who were on a 18-hour-mass hunger strike.
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi joined the hunger strike at the protest site in the University of Hyderabad with four others on Saturday morning. Former Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma was also present.
Earlier, late night on Friday, Rahul arrived at 12.10 am spoke to the agitating students and lit candles before Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula's picture. He sat for two and half hours with the students of Hyderabad Central University (HCU) who were on a 18-hour-mass hunger strike.
A member of joint action committee for social justice (University of Hyderabad) said Rahul Gandhi will be joining the hunger strike movement from 6am on Saturday National Students Union of India (NHUI) National president Roji M John said, Rahul Gandhi will sit in the hunger strike from 6 am to 6pm on Saturday.
Three of the students including two research scholars who were earlier suspended, sat on fast unto death demanding the fulfilment of their demands such as sacking and arresting of V-C Appa Rao Podile and dropping of Smrithi Irani and Bandaru Dattaretreya from the cabinet among others. About 2,000 students organised a candle light march on Friday night in the campus for Vemula's birthday on Saturday.
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Activist Kancha Ilaiah offers juice to Rahul Gandhi to end his strike
Rahul Gandhi expectedly takes a dig at RSS and PM Modi. He alleges that RSS is trying to crush spirit of youngsters by imposing a single idea from the top.
Grim warning from Congress President.
Meanwhile in Delhi too, protests are happening.
Rahul Gandhi is speaking again. Congress VP says that, " It is a very interesting day as it is not just Rohith's birthday but also Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary". Relating the two, he says that," Nobody has right to take away the right to 'search for the truth', this is exactly what happened with Gandhi ji and Rohith as well".
- Student organisations in Delhi join stir
I suggest that Rahul Gandhi not make the University a political den, considering the future of the students of UOH. He should not protest there, he should be worrying for the future of university students, this is my appeal. Exams are approaching in Hyderabad. The government has already formed a judicial commission: Nitin Gadkari
Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) leaders have been detained.
For BJP, Dalit issues are political gimmicks. But for us, they are the lifeline of this country - Tom Vadakkan, Congress.
This is an inclusive university, we have a very large Dalit population here. Would like to bring normalcy to UoH, will see what we can do about students' demands: M Periasamy, new Interim VC, UoH
Silent protest in Delhi University.
Constant attempt to make Rohith Vemula issue a Dalit vs non-Dalit one: Sambit Patra
The way insensitivity has been shown by Rahul Gandhi, is the reason why I say Rahul and responsibility cannot go together: Sambit Patra,BJP
Students from universities across India - Delhi University, Jamia Milia Islamia, JNU, NEHU, PU, BAMU, FTII etc all in HCU demanding justice for Rohith Vemula: NSUI
- Nalin Kohli of BJP questions Rahul Gandhi's intention of joining HCU protest
They are shedding crocodile tears to gain political mileage, polluting atmosphere of universities. This is a part of their anti-Modi campaign. All this is cheap politics: Venkaiah Naidu
Gandhi along with the mother of Rohith Vemula offered floral tributes at a makeshift memorial.
Peaceful demonstration by NSUI in remembrance of Rohith Vemula to begin shortly at Arts Faculty, Delhi University.
FTII Students' delegation arrive at protest site in University of Hyderabad
- Rohith Vemula's mother Radhika also joins at the protest.
We owe it to him, to memory of Gandhiji, to every single Indian student who dreams of an India free from prejudice & injustice: Rahul Gandhi
Watch Rahul at the protest site:
A young life full of dreams and aspirations was cut short. I am here today at the request of Rohith's friends and family, to stand with them in their fight for justice: Rahul Gandhi