New Delhi: Vegetarian versus non-veg food for global leaders: that’s the latest bone of contention in Indian politics.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping coming together to strengthen the BRICS movement rightly hogged the headlines.
But an unlikely sidebar which has garnered attention is food.
The meals served to leaders and other dignitaries attending the BRICS Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam featured an entirely vegetarian spread. A debate which started on internet has now snowballed into a political row, with Congress leaders taking a dig at the all-vegetarian menu and the BJP defending it.
“For the record: 80% of Indians are non-vegetarian. Indian non-vegetarian food is delicious as are my sister’s chole bhatura,” Rahul Gandhi posted on X along with an image of chole bhatura.
There was no mention of BRICS in his post, but no one had any doubt that the Congress leader was sending out a message to make it clear that he didn’t understand why only veg food was served to the world leaders.
‘Imposing vegetarianism on the world’
Pawan Khera, another Congress MP, was even more scathing in his criticism on the choice of food.
“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. India is a rich, diverse, multi-cuisine country, home to some of the finest non-vegetarian delicacies that people across the world relish and enjoy. So why did the Modi government choose to hide this part of India’s culture? Is it ashamed of the diversity that makes India what it is?” Khera wrote on X.
The gala dinner which PM Modi hosted for BRICS leaders on Saturday included a selection of regional vegetarian delicacies. The menu started with Khandvi Mille-Feuille, a steamed gram-flour roll tempered with mustard, coconut and curry leaves, and Khumb Galouti, tender pan-grilled mushroom kebabs served with mint pearls and sheermal.
In the main course were Paneer Lababdar, Gucchi Marmik made with Himalayan morel mushrooms and asparagus, Carrot Bean Poriyal with South Indian spices and coconut, Thakkali Belle Saaru, millet pulao, beetroot raita and assorted Indian breads.
The dinner concluded with desserts including Old Delhi Fruit Cream with Jalebi and Shahtoot Phirni, a slow-cooked milk-and-rice pudding topped with mulberries and gold leaf.
The BJP hit back at the Congress, saying it was politicising the food issue.
“I can’t believe that Congress party is making politics even on the food menu served to the leaders of BRICS nations,” Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said in a post on X.
Rijiju added that the visiting leaders had enjoyed Indian vegetarian cuisine, describing it as rich in flavour and nutritional variety and reflective of the country’s diverse regional culinary traditions.
The Union minister shared a video of Cabinet ministers, CMs of NDA-ruled states travelling on a bus to the gala dinner.