Mumbai professor sent on leave for criticising Rahul Gandhi's remark on Savarkar

A professor of Mumbai University has reportedly been sent on ‘leave’ for criticising Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's recent remark on freedom fighter and Hindu icon Veer Savarkar.

Yogesh Soman, who is the Director of Academy of Theatre Arts in Mumbai University, had posted a video in December slamming Gandhi over his remark on Savarkar. 

However, the Congress-affiliated National Students' Union of India (NSUI) raised objections to some of the words used by the professor in the video and raised a complaint with the university authorities.

As per reports, the NSUI workers also gheraoed Mumbai University VC Dr Subhash Pednekar on December 23 demanding action against the professor. The varsity's fact finding committee is said to have found him guilty and asked him to go on leave.

In the video posted on Twitter, Soman is seen telling Rahul Gandhi, “you are not Veer Savarkar, and you have no tension about this," adding that "I feel that you are not even a Gandhi."

"As you must know, after the marriage of your grandmother and Feroze, Gandhiji gave this name to you. So be aware of this history, I oppose your statement on Sarvakar, it is not your position to stand in front of Savarkar," he further said in the video.

In a recent rally in Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, Rahul Gandhi had said, "My name is not Rahul Savarkar, won’t apologise for the truth”, referring to Savarkar’s alleged apology to the British seeking an early release from Andaman jail