Bikaner House Removes Protest Art from Raihan Vadra Exhibition
Bikaner House administration removed approximately 70 protest photographs from Raihan Vadra's art exhibition, sparking accusations of censorship from Congress leaders and the artist.
The administration of Bikaner House removed approximately 70 protest photographs from Raihan Vadra's solo exhibition, No Idea Is Final, on October 22. Management informed Vadra at 3:30 p.m. that the images had to be removed by 5:00 p.m. or the show would be cancelled, citing the current political climate in India as the reason for the decision.
Vadra, the son of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, stated that the removed works documented youth protests in Delhi and were deemed objectionable by management. He alleged that officials specifically directed him to remove two photographs of the Indian national flag, a demand he refused. Despite the removal of nearly half the exhibition, the show proceeded as scheduled and continues until Sunday.
Congress leaders condemned the action as state-sponsored censorship. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra described the move as ridiculous and an attempt at muzzling the voice of the youth, claiming India is no longer a democracy. Pawan Khera, Chairman of the AICC Media & Publicity Department, argued that the photographs merely documented protests and were not inflammatory. Member of Parliament Karti Chidambaram characterized the behavior of the establishment as churlish and obtuse, while the Indian Youth Congress Legal Cell issued a statement asserting that the truth cannot be censored.
