Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has invited photographer Raihan Vadra to hold his exhibition ‘No Idea Is Final’ in Kerala, days after several photographs were removed from the exhibition at Delhi’s Bikaner House.

Satheesan said late Thursday on X that Kerala would be “happy and proud” to host the exhibition in full, without any exclusions or amendments.

The invitation came amid a row over the removal of photographs from Raihan’s exhibition at Bikaner House. Raihan had alleged that several photographs documenting protests in Delhi, including images featuring the national flag, were removed shortly before the exhibition opened.

74 photographs removed from exhibition

Raihan had prepared 105 photographs for the exhibition, of which 74 were reportedly removed. He said many of the photographs depicted youth protests and demonstrations involving Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Raihan alleged that he was informed only a few hours before the exhibition opened that the photographs had to be removed. He also said that images featuring the Indian Tricolour were among those objected to.

The exhibition, titled ‘No Idea Is Final’, subsequently opened with the remaining works.
Also read | Pawan Khera slams Bikaner House over alleged censorship of Raihan Vadra’s artworks

Priyanka Gandhi backs son

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had backed her son amid the controversy, saying those in positions of power should not fear the expression of others.

“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,” she said in a post on X.

Priyanka also told Raihan that she was proud of him and stood by his work.

The Congress has accused the authorities and the Centre of attempting to suppress artistic expression and the voice of young people.
Also read | ‘Most art is political’: Raihan Vadra slams Bikaner House for removing 70 photos from exhibition

Bikaner House explains removal

The Bikaner House Management Society said the photographs were removed because they did not comply with the institution’s policies and prescribed standards.

The management said the exhibition was continuing with works that complied with its policies. According to the explanation, only works featuring wildlife were being displayed.

BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia criticised the Congress over the controversy and accused it of attempting to bring Raihan into politics. He also pointed to Bikaner House’s policy restricting artwork with political content.

The dispute has since drawn attention to the balance between institutional policies and artistic expression, with Satheesan’s invitation offering Raihan an alternative venue for displaying the exhibition in full.