<p>Two days after senior Mumbai University (MU) faculty member Yogesh Soman was sent on forced leave after he posted a video <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15790870490939777487636">criticising</gwmw> Rahul Gandhi, a Maharashtra Congress leader on Wednesday said the action should not be construed as "<gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-3" id="gwmw-15790870490936858032785">intolerance</gwmw>".</p>.<p>The party spokesperson Sachin Sawant said that the action was aimed at "cleansing the education system".</p>.<p><gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-3" id="gwmw-15790870515075180722580">MU general secretary</gwmw> had issued a letter at 11.30 pm on Monday stating that Soman was being sent on forced leave, a Chhatra Bharti functionary had said on Tuesday.</p>.<p><gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15790870537250789465577">Soman</gwmw>, Director of the department of Academy of Theatre Arts, had posted a video <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15790870537255247848754">criticising</gwmw> Rahul Gandhi over his remarks "I am Rahul Gandhi and not Rahul Savarkar" which the latter had made at a public meeting in Delhi.</p>.<p>Students of 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.</p>.<p>Reacting to the development, a senior BJP leader had reportedly <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15790870568567348572799">questioned</gwmw> whether the action against Soman was not intolerance.</p>.<p>Sawant said the BJP had held the entire education system to "ransom" during its tenure in Maharashtra.</p>.<p>"Several inefficient persons with RSS ideology and background were holding different posts in the education system. Action against Soman was not <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-3" id="gwmw-15790870591612781425550">intolerance but</gwmw> cleansing the education system of such elements," he said.</p>.<p>He said Soman "not only lacks teaching <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-3" id="gwmw-15790870598841937545064">experience but</gwmw> also doesn't possess any degree in theatre".</p>.<p>"<gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15790870605605600764271">Soman</gwmw> used his position to propagate the ideology of the RSS and the BJP among students. His political comments are testimony to this," he said.</p>.<p>Citing service rules, Sawant said the action against Soman was justified.</p>.<p>"Rules state that those appointed on government post should not voice their personal political views and should not be affiliated to any political party.</p>.<p>"<gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15790870633778285237506">Soman</gwmw> made the video attacking Rahul Gandhi because he had the backing of the BJP government," he said.</p>.<p>MU Vice Chancellor Ajay Deshmukh had told students that a fact-finding committee will be set up in the matter.</p>
<p>Two days after senior Mumbai University (MU) faculty member Yogesh Soman was sent on forced leave after he posted a video <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15790870490939777487636">criticising</gwmw> Rahul Gandhi, a Maharashtra Congress leader on Wednesday said the action should not be construed as "<gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-3" id="gwmw-15790870490936858032785">intolerance</gwmw>".</p>.<p>The party spokesperson Sachin Sawant said that the action was aimed at "cleansing the education system".</p>.<p><gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-3" id="gwmw-15790870515075180722580">MU general secretary</gwmw> had issued a letter at 11.30 pm on Monday stating that Soman was being sent on forced leave, a Chhatra Bharti functionary had said on Tuesday.</p>.<p><gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15790870537250789465577">Soman</gwmw>, Director of the department of Academy of Theatre Arts, had posted a video <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15790870537255247848754">criticising</gwmw> Rahul Gandhi over his remarks "I am Rahul Gandhi and not Rahul Savarkar" which the latter had made at a public meeting in Delhi.</p>.<p>Students of 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.</p>.<p>Reacting to the development, a senior BJP leader had reportedly <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15790870568567348572799">questioned</gwmw> whether the action against Soman was not intolerance.</p>.<p>Sawant said the BJP had held the entire education system to "ransom" during its tenure in Maharashtra.</p>.<p>"Several inefficient persons with RSS ideology and background were holding different posts in the education system. Action against Soman was not <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-3" id="gwmw-15790870591612781425550">intolerance but</gwmw> cleansing the education system of such elements," he said.</p>.<p>He said Soman "not only lacks teaching <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-3" id="gwmw-15790870598841937545064">experience but</gwmw> also doesn't possess any degree in theatre".</p>.<p>"<gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15790870605605600764271">Soman</gwmw> used his position to propagate the ideology of the RSS and the BJP among students. His political comments are testimony to this," he said.</p>.<p>Citing service rules, Sawant said the action against Soman was justified.</p>.<p>"Rules state that those appointed on government post should not voice their personal political views and should not be affiliated to any political party.</p>.<p>"<gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15790870633778285237506">Soman</gwmw> made the video attacking Rahul Gandhi because he had the backing of the BJP government," he said.</p>.<p>MU Vice Chancellor Ajay Deshmukh had told students that a fact-finding committee will be set up in the matter.</p>