Arvind Kejriwal, Rahul Gandhi Back Students Marching For Rohith Vemula, Kanhaiya Kumar

Arvind Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi today came out in support of students who took out a march in Delhi to demand justice for Rohith Vemula, the Hyderabad research scholar who committed suicide last month, and Kanhaiya Kumar, the JNU student arrested for sedition.

Rohit Vemula’s family is also present at the “Chalo Dilli” protest.

“The government is trying to muzzle dissent,” Mr Gandhi said, addressing the students at Jantar Mantar.

Carrying tricolor, blue and red flags, students, activists and intellectuals marched for about a kilometre to Jantar Mantar, the popular site of protests in the heart of the capital. Students of the JNU or Jawaharlal Nehru University, who are demanding the release of Kanhaiya Kumar, have also joined in.

Mr Kejriwal tweeted that he would go to Jantar Mantar to express solidarity with Rohith’s family and to speak to the students.

Will go to jantar mantar sometime in the afternoon today to express solidarity with Rohith's family n to speak to students

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 23, 2016

As the march began, protesters carried placards and shouted slogans demanding a “Rohit Act” to end caste discrimination in education.

“We have never seen such an anti-student government. The future of educational institutions is at stake,” said an activist.

“This protest is for millions of Rohith Vemulas, Dalits, minorities and women who have been denied freedom of speech, expression and basic education,” she added.

The protesters also demanded action against union ministers Smriti Irani and Bandaru Dattatreya, who have been accused by Rohith’s supporters of forcing the Hyderabad Central University to punish him for allegedly attacking a rival student activist. Rohith, 26, was found hanging on January 17, days after he was banned from the hostel and other areas on campus.