NEW DELHI: The controversy over the removal of photographs from artist Raihan Vadra’s exhibition at Bikaner House has escalated into a political confrontation, with BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia targeting the Gandhi family and accusing it of focusing on regaining power.Speaking about the row, Bhatia took aim at Congress leaders who had backed Raihan, the son of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and businessman Robert Vadra. He alleged that the family was seeking to position Raihan for a political role.“Congress’ psychophant leaders are saying that he is the future president of Congress. One defective product who has lost 99 elections has not been launched by Sonia mummy. Now Priyanka mummy’s mission has come to launch Raihan,” Bhatia said, as quoted by ANI.Continuing his attack, the BJP spokesperson accused the Gandhi family of being willing to do anything to return to 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 added.
Raihan questions restrictions on artistic expression
The BJP’s remarks came amid a dispute over Raihan’s exhibition, titled No Idea Is Fine, at Bikaner House in New Delhi. Raihan had alleged that the venue’s management objected to photographs documenting youth protests in Delhi and instructed him to remove images featuring the Indian Tricolour.Speaking about the decision, Raihan said he did not know whether there had been pressure from elsewhere but believed the decision had been taken by the venue’s management.“I don’t know if there was any pressure or anything from anywhere else. I know that it was the management here that decided to, take that decision,” he said, according to ANI.Raihan also said he was unsure whether the decision had been politically motivated. However, he argued that public institutions and major art fairs had a responsibility to protect the interests of artists, galleries and curators.“Those people have to be responsible and they cannot put a curb on our freedoms of expression as artists. just because it doesn’t suit them. You know, tomorrow if there are different people in charge here and they remove something, it’s wrong,” he said.“Any curtailment of remunerative expression and art is wrong. any form of censorship is wrong,” he added.According to an earlier account by Raihan, the exhibition was scheduled to open at 7 pm, but Bikaner House officials raised objections to the photographs shortly before the event. He alleged that officials eventually insisted that all 70 images be removed, citing the venue’s policy on political content.Raihan said he had shared the exhibition layout a week in advance and questioned why the objections had not been raised earlier. He also alleged that officials did not provide written explanations for the removal of individual photographs.He said the management issued a notice warning that the building would be sealed and the exhibition cancelled if the photographs were not removed by 5 pm. Raihan subsequently turned the frames around, before moving them into storage after officials objected to that arrangement as well.The dispute also involved two photographs of the national flag. Raihan said he asked the officials to provide a written order directing him to remove them but did not receive one.
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Priyanka, Robert Vadra back artist
Raihan’s mother, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, had publicly supported him amid the controversy.In a post on X, she wrote: “@raihanrvadra. 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. You stand for what is true and everything beautiful will find its way to you. I am proud of you, always will be.”Robert Vadra also shared his son’s statement about the exhibition.Congress leaders separately criticised the reported removal of the photographs. Congress MP Karti Chidambaram described the Bikaner House administration’s behaviour as “Absolutely churlish & obtuse”, while Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pawan Khera alleged that the episode amounted to censorship.Raihan had earlier said the exhibition would continue in a limited capacity while he looked for an alternative venue to display the complete collection.The exhibition is also scheduled to be held in Bengaluru next month.
