Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday backed her son, artist and photographer Raihan Vadra, amid the controversy over the removal of photographs from his exhibition at Delhi’s Bikaner House, saying she was proud of him and urging him to stand by what was true.
In a post on X, Priyanka criticised those who, she said, become afraid of another person’s expression when they hold power.
Her message came a day after Raihan alleged that the Bikaner House management had asked him to remove photographs documenting recent protests in Delhi from his solo exhibition, ‘No Idea Is Final’.
“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,” Priyanka
wrote.
“You stand for what is true and everything beautiful will find its way to you,” she added, concluding her message with, “I am proud of you, always will be.”
She signed off the post with a red heart and the word “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
The controversy concerns photographs documenting youth protests in India, alongside images that included the national flag.
Raihan has alleged that the management asked him to remove a substantial portion of the artworks shortly before the exhibition’s scheduled opening.
In an exclusive conversation with CNN-News18, Raihan said the management had initially approached him about photographs that might violate its policy. He said he had asked the authorities to specify in writing which photographs violated which policy and provide their reasons.
Raihan also claimed that he had already removed photographs containing political slogans and political figures because he understood the venue’s policy to prohibit political content.
Earlier, news agency PTI quoted Raihan as saying that he had shared the exhibition’s detailed proposal and layout with the Bikaner House management in advance.
He alleged that he was told the photographs had to be removed by 5 pm or the exhibition would be cancelled.
Raihan maintained that the photographs documented protests over the preceding six months and did not convey a political message.
‘Today It’s Him, Tomorrow It’ll Be Another Artist’
In her earlier comments to the media, Priyanka had criticised the alleged removal of the photographs, describing the action as an attempt to silence young people.
“I think it’s ridiculous,” she said, adding that the alleged move amounted to “muzzling the voice of the youth across the nation”.
Referring to her son’s photographs, she said they contained no commentary or material that was derogatory towards anyone, describing them instead as visual documentation of protests.
“It’s not a democracy anymore. Today it’s him, tomorrow it’ll be another artist,” she said.
The exhibition, titled ‘No Idea Is Final’, featured more than 100 photographs and artworks, including wildlife photography, abstract works and street photographs documenting recent youth movements in India.
According to PTI, more than 70 photographs were taken down, leaving around 40 pictures on display. The exhibition was scheduled to continue until Sunday.
Congress Leaders React To Bikaner House Controversy
Priyanka’s post came amid criticism from other Congress leaders over the alleged removal of the photographs.
Her husband, Robert Vadra, shared a statement posted by Raihan about the controversy, according to ANI.
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pawan Khera also criticised the alleged action, questioning why photographs of protests and the national flag had attracted objections. He argued that the controversy was about more than the artworks themselves.
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram condemned the administration’s alleged conduct, describing it on X as “Absolutely churlish & obtuse behaviour by the establishment which controls Bikaner House.”
