Satheesan offers Kerala as venue for Raihan Vadra’s exhibition after Delhi controversy

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has invited photographer Raihan Vadra, son of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, to hold his exhibition in Kerala after several photographs were removed from his show at Delhi’s Bikaner House.

In a post on X, Satheesan said Kerala would be “happy and proud” to host Raihan’s exhibition, No Idea Is Final, “in its entirety — no exclusions, no exceptions.”

The invitation came after Raihan alleged that 74 of the 105 photographs planned for the exhibition were removed shortly before it opened at Bikaner House. He said many of the removed images documented recent youth protests and included photographs of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi.

Raihan said he was informed only hours before the opening that the photographs had to be taken down, failing which the exhibition could be cancelled. He also alleged that images featuring the national flag were among those removed.

The Bikaner House Management Society, however, said the photographs were removed because they did not comply with the institution’s policies and standards. It added that the exhibition was continuing with works that met the policy requirements.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra backed her son, saying it was wrong for those in power to fear another person’s expression. The Congress described the removal as an attempt to censor artistic expression and suppress the voice of the youth.

BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia criticised the Congress, saying it was trying to bring Raihan into politics. He pointed out that Bikaner House has a policy barring artwork with political content.

(Inputs from IANS)