Rahul Gandhi joins hunger strike for Rohith Vemula; ABVP says stop politics over dead bodies

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) Saturday called for a bandh of colleges in Telangana in protest against the "politics over dead bodies" done by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi in the Hyderabad Central University (HCU) over the Rohith Vemula issue.

"ABVP strongly opposes the politicisation being done by Rahul Gandhi in Central University at a time when peaceful atmosphere is returning in the university," ABVP national executive member Kadiam Raju said in a statement.

Gandhi should stop the "politics over dead bodies" and help restore normalcy in the HCU, he said.

Congress Vice president Rahul Gandhi arrives at the protest site in University of Hyderabad, joins hunger strike pic.twitter.com/I46SraMJw0

- ANI (@ANI_news) January 30, 2016

The call for shut down by the ABVP came as Gandhi came to the HCU campus late Friday night and is scheduled to join the fast to be undertaken by the agitating students of the university Saturday on the occasion of birthday of Dalit Research scholar Rohith Vemula who allegedly committed suicide earlier this month.

"ABVP questions why he (Rahul Gandhi) did not console when Dalit women students died in a medical college in Chennai," the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Vemula's friends and the other four Dalit students who were expelled sat on an sit-in through the night.

We 4 (who were suspended) are sitting on indefinite hunger strike,will continue till we get justice-Protester at UOH pic.twitter.com/0xRmKv7ni7

- ANI (@ANI_news) January 30, 2016

Also in Delhi, JNU students held a candle night vigil.

JNU Students hold Candlelight march in Delhi #RohithVemula (last night visuals) pic.twitter.com/Qm3YKdiTgI

- ANI (@ANI_news) January 30, 2016

Security has been tightened in the University.

Security tightened in University of Hyderabad, checks being conducted pic.twitter.com/9jmiKabOl9

- ANI (@ANI_news) January 30, 2016