Mumbai University professor Yogesh Soman sent on compulsory leave for speaking against Rahul Gandhi

Yogesh Soman on December 14 posted a video on Twitter targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his statement on Savarkar

Mumbai: A senior professor Yogesh Soman at Mumbai University has been reportedly sent on compulsory leave following protests over his statement against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Soman, director of the Academy of Theatre Arts of the Mumbai University, director of the department of Academy of Theatre Arts, was on Tuesday sent on forced leave with the university initiating an investigation against complaints received against him.

The action was taken against Yogesh Soman after students staged a sit-in protest at the Kalina campus. Students of the Academy of Theatre Arts, Chhatra Bharti Students Union and activists of AISF had been agitating against the professor for his comments on Rahul Gandhi and women in general since January 13.

“The Mumbai university general secretary issued a letter at 11.30 pm on Tuesday stating that Yogesh Soman had been sent on forced leave, following which students withdrew their strike,” said Shridhar Pednekar, Mumbai University unit president of Chhatra Bharti.

The vice-chancellor of the university also assured students that a fact-finding committee will be set up to inquire into the complaints against the varsity professor.

Yogesh Soman on December 14 posted a video on Twitter targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his statement on Savarkar.

In the video, the professor Soman said, “You are right you are not Savarkar. You have nothing of him in you, his dedication, his sacrifice his valour, but you also do not have anything to be called Gandhi. I condemn your pappugiri,”.

Theatre students of the department have also claimed that they have been suffering due to lack of teachers for the past six months.