Hyderabad, Jan 30  Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi late on Friday night reached the University of Hyderabad and participated in a candle light march by the students to mark the birth anniversary of Rohith Vemula, a Dalit research scholar who committed suicide two weeks ago.

Rahul, who landed at Hyderabad airport around midnight, drove straight to the university to express solidarity with the students protesting over the suicide.

This is the second time in less than two weeks that the Congress leader is visiting the campus to meet and address the students.

He will spend the night with the students on the campus and participate in the programmes organised by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) for social justice on Saturday.

Immediately after reaching the shopping complex where students are staging the protest for the last 12 days, Rahul paid tributes to Rohith at the memorial constructed by the students. He then sat with Rohith's mother, brother and other students.

The students are demanding action against Vice-Chancellor P. Appa Rao and others responsible for the suicide of Rohith Vemula.

As soon as the Congress MP's convoy reached the main gate of the university, activists of ABVP tried to stop him. They were protesting his visit to the campus. Police had to use mild force to disperse the protesters.

Rahul had visited the campus on January 19, two days after Rohith committed suicide. He had also interacted with the mother of Rohith and four other Dalit students who are on protest for nearly a month.

The MP had demanded action against the vice chancellor, central ministers and others responsible for the student's suicide.