Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was joined by the mother of Rohith Vemula, a Dalit student of University of Hyderabad whose suicide had sparked protests in 2016, as the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' entered Hyderabad on Tuesday. Later, Gandhi unfurled the national flag in front of the Charminar, over 32 years after his father and then Congress chief Rajiv Gandhi had started the 'Sadbhavna Yatra' from the same spot.


Earlier in the day, Rohith's mother Radhika Vemula met Rahul Gandhi and walked with him for a few minutes during the march.


The Congress and several party leaders tweeted pictures of Radhika Vemula walking with Gandhi during the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'.


After meeting Vemula's mother, Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "Rohith Vemula is and will remain a symbol of my struggle against social discrimination and injustice."


After the meeting, Radhika Vemula tweeted, "Extended solidarity to Bharat Jodo Yatra, walked with Rahul Gandhi, and called upon Congress to save Constitution from BJP-RSS assault, Justice for Rohith Vemula, passing Rohith Act, increasing representation of Dalits, oppressed sections in higher judiciary, education for all."






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The death of the 26-year-old Dalit student on January 17, 2016, triggered massive protests against casteism in institutions of higher learning. Gandhi had joined the student protests over the suicide of Rohith Vemula.






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Congress from its official Twitter handle tweeted, "Rohit with Vemula's mother @RahulGandhi Mother's hope...son's feeling."






Later in the day, Rahul Gandhi unfurled the tricolour amidst a massive crowd at the congested Charminar locality. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, senior leader Digvijaya Singh and Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee chief Revanth Reddy were among those present at the event, PTI reported.


Gandhi also paid floral tributes to his father Rajiv Gandhi's photograph on the stage.


The 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' resumed from Matha Temple in Shamshabad on Tuesday morning and halted at the Legacy Palace at Bahadurpura in Hyderabad for an afternoon break. The yatra's night halt will be at Gandhi Ideology Centre in Bowenpally.


(With inputs from PTI)