Raihan Vadra alleges censorship as Bikaner House removes over 70 protest photos ahead of solo exhibition opening
New Delhi: Artist and photographer Raihan Vadra, son of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and businessman Robert Vadra, has alleged that over 70 photographs documenting recent protests in Delhi were removed ahead of his solo exhibition at Bikaner House. Priyanka Gandhi criticised the decision and raised concerns about restrictions on artistic expression.
Titled No Idea is Final, the exhibition was previewed on Wednesday and is scheduled to run from Thursday to Sunday.
Raihan Vadra exhibition controversy
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Raihan said the Bikaner House administration informed him at 3.30 pm on Wednesday that the photographs had to be removed by 5 pm or the exhibition would be cancelled. According to him, officials cited the political context of the images as the reason for their removal.
He maintained that the photographs were intended to document protests held over the past six months, rather than promote a political message. He also said he had submitted a detailed proposal and exhibition layout beforehand.
“I felt it is my duty as an Indian artist…They are censoring the work of artists, I don’t know what they are scared of. They even went to the extent of removing the picture of the Indian flag,” Raihan said.
Questioning the distinction between art and politics, he added, “First of all, you can’t say don’t show political art because all art is political. There is no art without politics.”
‘It’s not a democracy anymore’: Priyanka Gandhi
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also condemned the removal of the photographs, saying they contained nothing derogatory and merely documented events. She warned that the decision could have implications for other artists in the future.
“It’s not a democracy anymore. Today it’s him, tomorrow it’ll be another artist,” she said.
According to PTI, the exhibition originally included more than 100 photographs and artworks spanning wildlife, abstract art and street photography documenting recent youth movements.
Raihan alleged that more than 70 photographs were taken down, leaving approximately 40 works on display. The removal left two large rooms on the first floor of the CCA building largely empty, with nails visible on the red walls where the photographs had hung. Copies of the Preamble to the Constitution were placed along the bare walls.
A Bikaner House official declined to comment on the controversy, saying they were “not authorised to comment.”