Artist and photographer Raihan Vadra, the son of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Robert Vadra, has questioned the objections raised by the Bikaner House administration over photographs displayed as part of his exhibition, No Idea Is Final, telling CNN-News18 that he had sought a written explanation for the removal of the artworks and did not understand why photographs featuring the Indian national flag had become an issue.
In an exclusive conversation with CNN-News18, Raihan recounted how the controversy unfolded in the run-up to the exhibition’s opening, alleging that the venue’s management initially raised concerns about certain photographs but did not provide a written explanation identifying the images or the policy they allegedly
violated.
“So I opened my exhibition yesterday at 7 pm. Twenty-four hours before that, I was approached by the Bikaner House management and was told that some photos in the exhibition may be against their policy,” Raihan told CNN-News18.
He said he asked the management to specify in writing which photographs were objectionable, the policy they allegedly violated and the reasons behind the objections. Until then, he said, he would not remove any pictures.
“I told them, ‘Please give me in writing which photos are against what policy and your reason. Until then, I will not remove any photos’,” he said, adding that the management had agreed to get back to him.
Raihan said the management did not contact him overnight. He said members of the venue’s team subsequently visited the exhibition space and viewed the photographs, even remarking that the pictures were nice.
He said the situation changed around an hour after that visit, when his team received a call from a senior official, whom he identified as the deputy resident commissioner, instructing them to remove the photographs.
Raihan said his team again insisted on receiving the instructions in writing.
The artist said approximately 74 photographs were involved in the controversy. These included street photography, pictures of the Indian national flag and images documenting protests in India over the preceding year.
He said he was aware of the exhibition venue’s policy against political content and had already removed photographs containing political slogans or depicting political figures.
However, he questioned why the national flag had also become a point of contention.
“I don’t understand what the issue is with the national flag being exhibited,” Raihan told CNN-News18.
His account comes amid the controversy surrounding the exhibition, which initially featured more than 100 photographs and artworks, including wildlife photography, abstract works and street photographs documenting youth movements and protests in India.
What Raihan Vadra Had Said Earlier About The Controversy
The controversy first came into public focus on October 21, when Raihan alleged that the Bikaner House administration had asked him to remove a substantial number of photographs documenting recent protests in Delhi shortly before the exhibition was scheduled to open.
According to a news agency PTI, Raihan said he had been informed at 3.30 pm that the photographs had to be removed by 5 pm or the exhibition would be cancelled. He was told that it was not the right time to display the images.
Raihan also said he had shared the detailed proposal and layout of the exhibition with the management well in advance, making the last-minute request to remove a large portion of the artworks particularly objectionable to him.
In his earlier statement cited by PTI, he said the photographs did not convey a political message but documented protests over the preceding six months. He also argued that documenting events around him was part of his responsibility as an Indian artist.
The PTI report said more than 70 photographs had been taken down, leaving approximately 40 pictures on display. The report also described two large rooms in the venue’s Centre for Contemporary Art building where photographs had been removed from the walls.
According to news agency ANI, Raihan had separately alleged that the management objected to photographs depicting protests by young people in Delhi and instructed him to remove two images featuring the Tricolour.
He said he had refused to remove the national-flag photographs and that the exhibition would continue in a limited capacity while he explored the possibility of finding another venue to display the complete collection.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Backs Son, Says She Is Proud Of Him
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Raihan’s mother, has publicly backed him amid the controversy.
In a post on X on Thursday, Priyanka shared a message supporting her son’s decision to stand by his work and his expression as an artist.
“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,” she wrote.
“You stand for what is true and everything beautiful will find its way to you.
“I am proud of you, always will be.
“❤️ mama”
.@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.
❤️ mama
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) October 22, 2026
Her post followed her criticism of the reported removal of the photographs on October 21. Speaking to PTI, Priyanka had described the development as “ridiculous” and accused the authorities of “muzzling the voice of the youth across the nation”.
She had argued that the photographs were visual documentation of protests, without commentary or derogatory content directed at anyone.
“Today it’s him, tomorrow it’ll be another artist,” she had said.
Congress Leaders Criticise Bikaner House Administration
The controversy has also drawn criticism from other Congress leaders.
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pawan Khera accused the authorities of targeting photographs that documented protests and questioned why images of the national flag had also faced objections.
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram also criticised the administration, describing its behaviour as “obtuse” and “churlish”.
