The dinner menu served to world leaders at the BRICS Summit in New Delhi has triggered a political controversy, with Congress leaders criticising the all-vegetarian spread and accusing the BJP of attempting to impose its dietary preferences.
The gala dinner on Saturday featured an elaborate vegetarian menu with more than 10 dishes, including traditional and contemporary Indian preparations.
Congress leaders questioned why non-vegetarian dishes were not included, arguing that India’s culinary diversity extends beyond vegetarian cuisine.
Rahul Gandhi questions vegetarian-only menu
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took to social media platform X to highlight India’s diverse food culture.
“For the record: 80% of Indians are non-vegetarian. Indian non-vegetarian food is delicious. As are my sister’s chole bhature,” Gandhi said in his post.
Congress leader Pawan Khera also criticised the menu, alleging that the BJP had extended its dietary preferences to international dignitaries attending the summit.
“The BJP’s habit of imposing its dietary preferences on fellow Indians is already deeply problematic. Now, they have taken it a step further by imposing their own choices on dignitaries from across the world,” Khera said.
Waris Pathan lists dishes he wanted at BRICS dinner
Congress leader Waris Pathan also joined the criticism, arguing that the menu did not adequately represent India’s culinary diversity.
“We talk a lot about India’s diversity, but this menu has wiped out diversity itself!” Pathan said.
He argued that while promoting vegetarianism was a legitimate choice, India’s food culture should not be represented exclusively through vegetarian dishes.
Pathan suggested that the dinner could have featured popular Indian non-vegetarian preparations such as mutton masala fry, Hyderabadi biryani, tandoori chicken, butter chicken and Goan fish curry.
He also made a reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier “Naraz Fufa” remark while joking about the absence of mutton and chicken from the menu.
What was on the BRICS dinner menu?
The dinner featured a range of vegetarian Indian dishes.
Starters included Khandvi Mille, described as a steamed gram-flour roll, and Khumb Galauti, featuring pan-grilled mushroom kebabs with mint pearls.
The main course included Paneer Lababdar, Gucchi Marmik made with Himalayan morel mushrooms and asparagus, Carrot Bean Poriyal, millet pulao, beetroot raita and assorted Indian breads.
The dessert section featured Old Delhi Fruit Cream with Jalebi and Shahtoot Phirni.
The menu therefore sought to showcase a variety of Indian regional flavours through vegetarian preparations.
BJP accuses Congress of trivialising BRICS summit
The BJP hit back at the Congress, accusing the Opposition of focusing on the dinner menu instead of the diplomatic outcomes of the summit.
BJP leaders argued that the BRICS meeting had focused on major global issues, including international conflicts, economic cooperation and the New Delhi Declaration.
BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said the Opposition’s focus on food demonstrated that it had little else to criticise about the summit.
Another BJP spokesperson, Tuhin Sinha, described Gandhi’s remarks as “petty and frivolous” and argued that the Congress should instead have acknowledged what he described as India’s diplomatic achievements at the summit.
The BJP also highlighted the consensus reached among BRICS members on major global issues and India’s role in bringing the participating countries together.
Food row amid wider political debate
The controversy over the BRICS dinner comes amid a wider political debate over food choices and cultural identity in India.
The issue has also gained attention in West Bengal, where a separate debate over non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja has triggered political reactions.
While the BRICS menu itself was designed around vegetarian Indian cuisine, the Opposition’s criticism has turned what was primarily a diplomatic dinner into a political debate over representation, dietary diversity and India’s culinary identity.
The BJP, meanwhile, has maintained that the focus should remain on the summit’s diplomatic achievements rather than the food served to visiting leaders.
