Action soon against MU faculty for remarks on Rahul: Minister

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Thursday said that action will soon be taken against senior Mumbai University (MU) faculty member Yogesh Soman over his "offensive" remarks against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Soman, director of the Academy of Theatre Arts of the MU, was earlier this week sent on a forced leave. He had posted a video criticising Rahul Gandhi over his remarks "I am Rahul Gandhi and not Rahul Savarkar" which the latter had made at a public meeting in Delhi.

In a letter issued on Monday, MU general secretary had said that Soman was being sent on forced leave.

"The professor has made an offensive statement against Rahul Gandhi. A professor's work is to teach the students and not make such statements," Deshmukh said.

"He (Soman) has been sent on leave for now, but action will soon be taken against him," the minister added.

Students of the Congress-affiliated National Students Union of India (NSUI) and other bodies had demanded action against Soman and also held a sit-in protest at the Kalina campus of the MU earlier.