Delhi exhibition sees 75 photographs removed over political content

Seventy-five of the 105 photographs planned for Raihan Vadra’s solo exhibition, titled “No Idea Is Final”, were removed from Delhi’s Bikaner House hours before the opening on October 21. The venue’s management reportedly objected to the images, citing their “political” content and the timing of the show. The removed works documented youth-led protests across Delhi over the previous six months.

Vadra, the son of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Robert Vadra, stated that the photographs were visual documentation of protests rather than political commentary. He expressed frustration, noting that the details of the exhibition had been settled when the proposal was originally accepted. While 30 photographs remained on display, Vadra indicated his intention to find another venue in Delhi to exhibit the removed works.

Following the controversy, Rahul Gandhi visited the exhibition at Bikaner House, interacting with visitors and praising the work. The visit occurred amid allegations from the BJP regarding political motivations behind the controversy and purported tensions within the Gandhi family, which Gandhi dismissed by attending the event.