Raihan Vadra’s Protest Photos Removed From Delhi Exhibition, What Happened at Bikaner House?

Artist and photographer Raihan Vadra, son of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and businessman Robert Vadra, has alleged that the management of Bikaner House in New Delhi asked him to remove dozens of photographs documenting youth protests from his solo exhibition, No Idea Is Final, shortly before its scheduled opening. The controversy has triggered criticism from Congress leaders, with questions being raised over artistic freedom and the display of politically sensitive photographs at a public cultural venue.

According to Raihan, the venue's management objected to the political nature of the photographs and said it was not the right time to display them. He said he was given a deadline to remove the images or risk cancellation of the exhibition. The show is scheduled to run from October 22 to October 25 at the Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA), Bikaner House.

Why Were Raihan Vadra’s Protest Photos Removed?

Raihan said the photographs documented youth-led protests and public movements in India. The exhibition also included wildlife photography, abstract works and street photography. Speaking to NDTV, Raihan said he wanted to document movements taking place around him and capture the visual character of people coming together in public demonstrations. He maintained that the photographs were documentary works.

According to his account, the management first raised objections on October 20, citing the political nature of the images. On October 21, he said he received a written request at around 3:30 pm to remove the photographs by 5 pm, with the exhibition facing cancellation if he did not comply. Raihan said he had shared the exhibition's proposed layout with the venue in advance. The written request, he told NDTV, cited non-compliance with the venue's booking policy. Bikaner House authorities had not issued a public response to the allegations in reports available on Thursday morning.

How Many Photographs Were Taken Down?

Raihan said his exhibition was planned to feature 105 photographs and that he was asked to remove 75 of them. He told NDTV that 74 photographs were ultimately taken down. Reports said around 40 photographs remained on display, while two rooms on the first floor were left largely bare after the removal of the works. The dispute therefore affected a substantial portion of the planned exhibition rather than a handful of individual images.

What Is the Controversy Over the Indian Tricolour?

The dispute also involved two photographs featuring the Indian national flag. Raihan said he refused to remove the flag images, arguing that he would not take down a photograph of the Tricolour. However, he told NDTV that venue staff removed one of the two photographs while he was away. The handling of these images subsequently became a major part of the political reaction to the incident.

What Did Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Say?

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticised the reported removal of her son's photographs, describing the move as an attempt to silence young artists. She argued that the images were a visual record of events and warned that restrictions could affect other artists in the future. Her reaction turned the dispute into a wider political debate over freedom of expression, the role of public institutions and whether photographs documenting protests should be restricted because of their political context.

How Have Congress Leaders Reacted?

Several Congress leaders criticised the decision. Party spokesperson Pawan Khera questioned why photographs documenting protests and images of the national flag had become contentious. Congress MP Karti Chidambaram also condemned the venue's reported action. The criticism has focused on whether the removal amounted to censorship. However, the allegations and the venue's stated reasons should be distinguished from the political conclusions drawn by opposition leaders. The administration's full explanation was not available in the reports reviewed.

What Happens Next to the Removed Photographs?

Raihan has said he plans to display the removed photographs at another venue, although the location and dates had not been finalised in his comments reported by NDTV. The exhibition, No Idea Is Final, is scheduled to continue at Bikaner House until October 25. The immediate dispute centres on the removal of the protest photographs, while the broader questions concern the venue's booking rules and the limits, if any, placed on politically sensitive artwork in publicly managed cultural spaces.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 22, 2026 09:52 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).