Priyanka Gandhi shares message for son Raihan Vadra amid Bikaner House exhibition row

Raihan Vadra had alleged that the management of Bikaner House had objected to photographs depicting protests by young people in Delhi.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday voiced support for her son, Raihan R Vadra, after he alleged that authorities had asked him to remove certain photographs related to the Delhi protests, including an image of the national flag, from his exhibition scheduled to open on Thursday at the Bikaner House in the capital.

In a post on X, Priyanka shared a message about freedom of expression, saying that those in positions of power weaken their own authority when they fear others expressing themselves.

“When someone with power becomes afraid of the expression of another, he doesn’t know it, but he has already lost the very power he is trying to protect. You stand for what is true and everything beautiful will find its way to you. I am proud of you, always will be” her post read.

Her message comes after Raihan’s allegation that the exhibition management had sought the removal of specific photographs.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Raihan (@raihanrvadra)

"Five hours ago, the management of Bikaner House compelled me to remove most of the artworks from my exhibition, 'No Idea Is Final,' which is scheduled to open this evening at 7 pm. The images in question depicted protests carried out by young people in Delhi. Evidently, the management found the content of these images 'objectionable.' They also instructed me to remove two images featuring the Tricolour," the statement read.

Also Read: Priyanka Gandhi's son Raihan alleges Bikaner House pulled down his protest pics ahead of exhibition

Raihan said he had declined to remove the photograph featuring the Indian national flag, adding that the exhibition would continue with a limited selection of works for now. He said he would seek an alternative venue to showcase the complete collection of photographs documenting the protests.

“I have refused to do so; I will not remove the image of the Indian flag. For now, the exhibition will proceed in a limited capacity, but I will look for an alternative venue where I can display the entire collection of photographs related to the protests,” he said in the post.

Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More