‘Against policy’: Bikaner House on removal of photos from Raihan Vadra exhibition

Vadra had alleged that he had shared the exhibition layout a week earlier

NEW DELHI: Bikaner House Management Society on Thursday said it had requested the removal of certain photographs from Raihan Vadra’s exhibition, ‘No Idea Is Final’, after finding them inconsistent with its policy.The statement came after Vadra, son of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and businessman Robert Vadra, alleged that the venue’s management had asked him to remove photographs depicting youth movements in Delhi just hours before the exhibition’s scheduled opening at 7 pm.In a statement, the society said Bikaner House was a public cultural institution dedicated to promoting art and culture, and that exhibitions held at the venue must comply with its management policy.“Certain photographs displayed as part of Mr Raihan Vadra’s exhibition, No Idea Is Final’, at Bikaner House were found to be inconsistent with the policy of the Bikaner House Management Society. Accordingly, their removal was requested,” it said, as quoted by news agency PTI.“The photographs that are consistent with the Society’s policy have continued to be displayed,” the statement added.Speaking to ANI, Vadra said the management had first raised concerns about some images 24 hours before the opening. He said he had asked officials to identify the photographs so that the matter could be discussed, but was approached again on Thursday afternoon, leaving him with only a few hours to address the issue.Vadra alleged that he had shared the exhibition layout a week earlier and questioned why the concerns had not been raised sooner. He also said he had requested written explanations for the proposed removals but had not received specific reasons.

According to Vadra, the management ultimately insisted that none of 70 photographs in question be displayed. He said his team initially turned the framed photographs around before they were subsequently removed and placed in storage. He also alleged that two photographs featuring the Indian national flag had been objected to.“I don’t know if there was any pressure or anything from anywhere else. I know that it was the management here that decided to, take that decision,” he told ANI.