Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi is staging a protest along with the students here on Saturday demanding action against those responsible for the suicide of Dalit Ph.D. scholar, Vemula Rohit.

In his second visit to the campus in the last 13 days after Rohit's suicide on January 17, 2016, the Congress leader arrived in the campus late on Friday night.

He participated in a candle light rally to mark the birthday of Rohit who would have turned 27 today and sprang a surprise when he sternly objected to students raising slogans of 'Smriti Irani Murdabad , Dattratreya Murdabad '.

"Let’s not say Murdabad (which means death to) to any body. It is not going to give you justice,’’ he said attracting an instant applause from the gathering.

Rohit was one of the five students of the Ambedkar Students' Association who were expelled from hostels as part of disciplinary action.

The students are demanding action against the varsity Vice-Chancellor P Apparao, Union Ministers Smriti Irani and B Dattatreya, and some others, holding them responsible for Rohit’s suicide.

V-C CHANGE

Meanwhile, the in-charge Vice-Chancellor V Srivastav, who has been facing the students’ ire for taking over as in-charge, went on leave.

In a late night statement, the registrar said: ``As the senior most professor, Vipin Srivastav, proceeded on leave with effect from the afternoon of January 29, the next senior most professor, M Periasamy, shall perform the duties of the Vice-Chancellor till further orders.’’

UoH Vice-Chancellor P Apparao, who figures in the FIR filed by the police on Rohit’s suicide, went on indefinite leave last week.