'Some photos were inconsistent with our policy': Bikaner House on Raihan Vadra's exhibit takedown amid row

The management of Bikaner House in the Capital on Thursday said Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and businessman Robert Vadra’s son Raihan Vadra was asked to remove “certain photographs” from his solo exhibition after they were found “inconsistent with the policy” of the cultural society.

The development came as the request sparked a political row, with Priyanka alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre was “afraid” and claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi had “already lost the very power he is trying to protect”. The BJP hit back, alleging the Gandhi family was willing to do anything to regain power.

The photographs in question are of the recent protests against the Election Commission that had gripped Delhi.

“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.

“Bikaner House is a public cultural institution dedicated to the promotion of art and culture. The exhibition and associated activities must comply with Bikaner House Management Society Policy. The photographs that are consistent with the Society’s policy have been continued to be displayed,” it added.

Bikaner House is owned and managed by the Rajasthan government.

Raihan was ordered to take down images from his solo exhibition, No Idea is Final, which opened on Wednesday. In a statement, he alleged he was told to remove the photos only hours before the event was to begin. The exhibition ultimately featured wildlife and street photography.

“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 the statement that was circulated at the opening of the exhibition.

Raihan said the proposal approved by the Bikaner House management on June 30, 2025, clearly stated the exhibition would feature images depicting “themes of choice, control, and unity”. “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,” he said.

Despite this, Raihan alleged, he was asked to remove “50% of the artworks”.

He also alleged that Rohit Kumar, the principal resident commissioner of Bikaner House, toured the rooms where the photographs were displayed before purportedly “calling the Rajasthan chief secretary” and another 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 alleged.

On Thursday, Raihan said any curtailment of freedom of expression and art was wrong. "I don't know if there was any pressure or anything from anywhere else. I know that if it was the management here that decided to take that decision," he told ANI.

Priyanka termed the move ridiculous and "muzzling" of the voice of the youth across the nation. "Today it's him, tomorrow it'll be another artist," she told news agency PTI.

In a post on Instagram on Thursday, the Congress MP tagged Raihan and took a veiled jibe at the Narendra Modi-led government, saying, "When someone with power becomes afraid of the expression of another, he doesn't know it, but he has already lost the very power he is trying to protect.”

Congress leader Pawan Khera also questioned the government's stance on artistic expression. "Raihan Vadra is an artist. We can't understand why this government is against the expression of art by an artist. Every day we see examples of how this government is against the youth voicing their opinions using different mediums, including art," he told news agency ANI.

BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia, however, targeted the Congress leadership, alleging the Gandhi family was focused on regaining power.

"This fake Gandhi family wants power every time, and as soon as they are out of power, they will do anything. They can do anything for power. The law will prevail in the country, be it the defective product Rahul Gandhi or the future president of Congress, Raihan Vadra. Priyanka mummy is now on a new mission. After the launch of Rahul Gandhi, Raihan will be launched,” he said.