NEW DELHI: Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday reached Rajghat to participate in the nationwide shutdown protest or 'Bharat Bandh' called by the party against rising fuel prices.

This was Gandhi's first public appearance since he returned from Kailash Mansarovar yatra. He had embarked on the yatra on August 31.

He paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial before joining other opposition leaders including Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ashok Gehlot in the protest.

The protest has been called by Congress and Left parties against the spiralling cost of petrol and diesel which have reached record levels. It is being supported by several opposition parties.