Vegetarian BRICS Dinner Menu Sparks Political Controversy in India

A political controversy erupted over the entirely vegetarian menu served at the BRICS gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for world leaders at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The dispute began after the dinner on September 12, the first day of the 18th BRICS Summit, when the Congress party accused the government of imposing dietary preferences on foreign dignitaries. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi highlighted on social media that 80 percent of Indians are non-vegetarian, citing data from the National Family Health Survey-5. He added a personal note, stating that Indian non-vegetarian food is delicious. Congress leader Pawan Khera described the menu selection as indicative of a broader pattern within the ruling party, arguing that guests from different countries should have been given options. Another Congress leader, Rashid Alvi, criticized the move as disrespectful, stating that guests should be served food they actually eat. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies defended the menu as a showcase of India's rich vegetarian culinary traditions.