‘Inconsistent with policy’: Bikaner House defends removal of Raihan Vadra’s protest photos
New Delhi: The management of Bikaner House on Thursday defended its decision to seek the removal of certain photographs from Raihan Vadra’s solo exhibition. It said the images did not comply with the Bikaner House Management Society’s policy.
The photographs showed recent protests against the Election Commission in Delhi. Raihan, the son of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, alleged that officials asked him to remove the images shortly before his exhibition opened.
The directive sparked a political dispute. Priyanka accused the Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre of being “afraid of losing power”.
Management cites policy
“Certain photographs displayed … (were) found to be inconsistent with the policy of the Bikaner House Management Society. Accordingly, their removal was requested,” the management said.
It described Bikaner House as a public institution that promotes art and culture. It said exhibitions and related activities must follow the society’s policy. Photographs that met those conditions remained on display, it added.
The Rajasthan government owns and manages Bikaner House.
Raihan disputes objections
Raihan’s exhibition, No Idea is Final, opened on Wednesday. It ultimately featured wildlife and street photography after the objections to the protest images.
“Yesterday [Tuesday] I was contacted by the management of Bikaner House raising objections towards the ‘political nature’ of the protest images and was requested to remove them,” the 26-year-old said in a statement circulated at the opening.
He said the management approved his proposal on June 30, 2025. According to him, the proposal clearly stated that the exhibition would explore “themes of choice, control, and unity”.
Photographer defends work
“The photos are simply a visual documentation of the people and the armed forces at the protests with no added commentary. Not a single photograph taken by me contains any derogatory or inflammatory comment of any kind,” Raihan said.
He alleged that officials nevertheless asked him to remove 50 per cent of the artworks.
Cancellation threat alleged
Raihan also alleged that principal resident commissioner Rohit Kumar inspected the exhibition rooms before calling the Rajasthan chief secretary and an officer at the Chief Minister’s Office.
“(They) finally informed me that I would have to remove all works deemed by him to be political by 3.30pm today, failing which the show would stand cancelled,” he said.