A dispute over politically themed art surfaced at New Delhi's Bikaner House after artist Raihan Vadra said venue managers required him to pull protest images before Wednesday's exhibition opening.
Vadra, 26, a nephew of opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and son of lawmaker Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, said on social media the images depicted Delhi's youth protests. He added, “Apparently the content is objectionable.” Vadra said managers also directed him to remove two photographs of the Indian flag; he refused. Reuters reported his account.
In a statement Thursday, the Bikaner House Management Society said it considered some photographs inconsistent with venue policy and did not specify which. It said the images it deemed compliant remained on display. The accounts differ over whether the removals were compelled or requested under the venue's rules.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party governs Rajasthan, which owns Bikaner House. The venue's website describes “No Idea is Final” as a show bringing together visual, multimedia and installation work, with subjects including wildlife and portraiture. Lawmaker Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Vadra's mother, wrote Thursday that fear of others' expression can erode the authority of those in power.
The dispute arose amid demonstrations this month over voter-list revisions. Protesters called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign, Reuters reported. The outlet said Modi's government faced criticism over its handling of the protests; authorities detained thousands and repeatedly restricted access to parts of central Delhi. Reuters also reported that a prolonged July sit-in over exam-paper leaks preceded the education minister's resignation.
