Protest photos, even Indian flag images, targeted at Priyanka Gandhi’s son’s exhibition

The son of senior Indian Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has accused authorities of censorship after he was ordered to remove or replace 74 photographs, many documenting student and youth protests in New Delhi, hours before his art exhibition was due to open.

Raihan Rajiv Vadra, a 26-year-old visual artist and curator, said authorities at Bikaner House in the Indian capital objected to 74 of the 105 photographs displayed in his exhibition, No Idea Is Final, on Wednesday, The Indian Express reported.

By evening, only around 35 exhibits remained, while authorities also objected to the blank frames that had replaced the removed photographs.

“As a citizen and an artist, for me it was my duty to take and display these images,” Raihan said. “Any restrictions on art in my opinion are wrong and futile. No matter how many such restrictions are placed, the art itself will find a way to reach the people.”

Raihan said the first objection was raised at 6pm on Tuesday, a day before the exhibition opened. He received a written objection at 3:30pm on Wednesday, just three hours before the opening, giving him 30 minutes to remove or replace the photographs.

According to Raihan, officials said the timing and context of the works were inappropriate and overtly political, arguing that the images should not be displayed while security was heightened across the city.

He said he had submitted the exhibition layout on October 15 and was later told that it was not legible. Although he had already removed photographs containing political slogans to comply with the venue’s policy against political content, he said he had not been informed that individual artworks would be reviewed or that all images needed prior approval.

In a statement circulated at the venue, Raihan said his team replaced the removed photographs with blank frames, but authorities subsequently demanded that those be taken down as well.

He also expressed surprise that some of the photographs featuring the Indian national flag were among those targeted for removal.

“I was shocked to see that they also wanted me to remove images of the Indian flag,” he said, adding that he had refused to remove them himself. According to Raihan, the photographs were taken down by others after he left the premises.

The exhibition documents public movements in New Delhi over the past six months, capturing demonstrations through what Raihan described as the lens of movement and rhythm.

He said he photographed the gatherings as both a participant and an observer, seeking to capture the atmosphere and collective expression of the movements.

Raihan’s mother, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, criticised the decision, calling it ridiculous and accusing the authorities of muzzling the voices of young people across India, according to the Press Trust of India.

“Today it’s him, tomorrow it will be another artist,” she said.

Raihan, who founded the Usual Suspects gallery and the You Cannot Miss This art collective, said the episode had reinforced his belief that public cultural spaces had responsibilities towards society beyond the interests of those managing them.

He argued that restricting artworks because they might offend or challenge particular interests was wrong, adding that art was inherently political.

The artist said the exhibition had received approval on June 30, 2025, with its proposal outlining themes of choice, control and unity. The show also includes wildlife and abstract photography.

The remaining works are scheduled to remain open to the public until October 25. Raihan said on Instagram that he would display the complete collection at another venue.

The Indian Express said it contacted Bikaner House officials for comment, but no response had been received at the time of publication.