Lucknow – Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU) has sparked a national uproar by expelling PhD research scholar Basant Kannaujiya from its Department of History in the Ambedkar School of Social Sciences, after he pursued studies there for an astonishing 14 years. The decision, rooted in allegations of "subversive activities" and involvement in a September 17, campus clash, has been branded as outright "tyranny" by Bahujan activists, who view it as a targeted assault on Dalit voices in academia.

The university's official memorandum, signed by Vice Chancellor Raj Kumar Mittal, details Kannaujiya's identification by an Inquiry Committee for allegedly instigating student mobs, vandalism, and breaching the VC's office. Drawing on CCTV footage, student testimonies, and his prior record including 14 show-cause notices since 2012 and multiple FIRs, the Disciplinary Committee recommended expulsion during meetings on October 7 and 9, 2025. Despite Kannaujiya's rebuttal on October 17, denying any violent role and framing his actions as welfare advocacy, the VC upheld the penalty, barring him from campus and future admissions.

"Although the University has always been sensitive towards welfare of students and providing them congenial teaching-learning environment, it is felt that presence of such student in the campus is subversive of peace, tranquility and teaching learning environment of the University. Shri Basant Kannaujiya has been in the University for fourteen long years and it appears that his sole intention is to create disturbance in the University instigating and spoiling the young students, misleading them into acts which can be extremely damaging their career."

In response, Kannaujiya's supporters and Bahujan networks have mobilized, decrying the move as emblematic of caste bias in institutions meant to honor Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Social media is ablaze with posts demanding intervention by the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and the Ministry of Education. Activists claim that his real offense was championing Ambedkarite ideals against campus discrimination.

Escalating the outcry, prominent Bahujan activists have issued a direct appeal to authorities. In a widely shared statement, they declared: "We demand from the Government of India and the Ministry of Education that they immediately intervene in this matter, conduct an impartial investigation, and direct the university administration to cancel the expulsion of research scholar Basant Kannaujiya with immediate effect." The call highlights a perceived pattern of targeting Dalit and backward scholars by "Manuvadi" elements in university leadership, urging swift reversal to safeguard academic freedom

As protests brew online and offline, with solidarity from student unions across Uttar Pradesh, the controversy exposes deeper fault lines in India's higher education. BBAU officials remain silent beyond the memo, but pressure mounts for transparency amid fears this could derail Kannaujiya's career and silence dissent in Ambedkar's namesake university.