Photographer Raihan Vadra says Bikaner House objected to images of youth protests; alleges one photo of national flag was removed without his consent
Photographs documenting youth-led protests in India have been removed from an exhibition by photographer Raihan Vadra, son of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, after the management of Bikaner House in New Delhi objected to their political content, he said on Wednesday.
Vadra alleged that the Rajasthan government-run cultural venue had asked him to take down most of the works from his solo exhibition, No Idea Is Final, shortly before its scheduled opening.
He also claimed that the management asked him to remove two photographs of the national flag, but he refused. One of the images was later taken down in his absence, he told the Press Trust of India.
In a social media post, Vadra said the exhibition would open with only part of the collection on display. He added that he would look for another venue to exhibit the complete series of protest photographs.
Vadra told PTI that the management had objected to the political nature of the images and said it was not the right time to display them. He alleged that the venue gave him until 5 p.m. to remove the photographs, warning that the exhibition would otherwise be cancelled.
He said he had submitted the exhibition proposal and layout to the venue in advance and questioned the decision to seek the removal of several works less than a day before the opening.
The exhibition also features wildlife photography, abstract art and street photography. It was scheduled to open to the public on Thursday, according to Scroll.
Bikaner House management and Rajasthan’s resident commissioner in Delhi had been approached for comment, Scroll reported. Their responses were not included in the report.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra expressed support for her son, saying she was proud of him. She wrote on social media that those in power who fear another person’s expression risk undermining the authority they seek to protect.
Congress leader Pawan Khera also criticised the reported action, saying even photographs of the national flag appeared to have become unacceptable. He questioned what offence the images had committed, arguing that they documented protests without being derogatory or inflammatory.
Background: Youth protests in Delhi
The photographs relate to youth-led demonstrations in Delhi against alleged mismanagement of competitive examinations, which began in June and intensified in July.
The protests included demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who stepped down on July 25, according to the report.
Demonstrations also followed the removal of activist Sonam Wangchuk from a hunger strike to hospital. A subsequent march towards Parliament was met with police action, with protesters reportedly injured during the use of batons, tear gas and pellet guns.
More recently, opposition parties, student groups and the Cockroach Janta Party campaign have held demonstrations in Delhi and other parts of the country since October 2, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over concerns about the Election Commission’s functioning and alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls.
Ahead of a demonstration on October 10, police imposed restrictions on gatherings in the capital. Organisers described the measures as intimidation, while thousands of protesters, activists and journalists were detained during the demonstrations, the report said.
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