A political debate has erupted over the vegetarian menu served at the BRICS Summit gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi appeared to take a dig at the choice of food.
Modi hosted a gala dinner for BRICS leaders on Saturday, featuring a selection of Indian regional dishes. The menu was entirely vegetarian and included several traditional and contemporary preparations from different parts of the country.
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, did not directly criticise the BRICS menu. Instead, he shared a photograph of a lunch spread featuring chole bhature on social media and wrote that a large majority of Indians eat non-vegetarian food. He also praised Indian non-vegetarian cuisine and referred to his sister’s chole bhature.
His post came shortly after the BRICS dinner menu became a subject of discussion online and in political circles. Congress MP Pawan Khera also criticised the government’s decision to serve only vegetarian food, arguing that India’s culinary culture is much more diverse.
Khera said India is home to a wide variety of cuisines, including many popular non-vegetarian delicacies, and questioned why that part of the country’s food culture was not represented at an international event.
The dinner menu, however, showcased a wide range of vegetarian dishes from different regions. The meal began with Khandvi Mille-Feuille, a modern presentation of the Gujarati snack, along with Khumb Galouti, a mushroom-based kebab preparation.
The main course included Paneer Lababdar, Gucchi Marmik featuring Himalayan morel mushrooms and asparagus, Carrot Bean Poriyal prepared with South Indian spices and coconut, and Thakkali Belle Saaru. Guests were also served millet pulao, beetroot raita and assorted Indian breads.
The meal ended with desserts including Old Delhi Fruit Cream with jalebi and Shahtoot Phirni, a slow-cooked milk-and-rice dessert topped with mulberries and gold leaf.
The food debate took place against the backdrop of a high-profile BRICS gathering in New Delhi, attended by leaders and representatives from several countries. The summit brought together leaders from the expanded BRICS grouping, which includes Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.
Chinese President Xi Jinping was notably absent from the gala dinner, according to the report. Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed was also among those who did not attend the dinner after leaving India following the summit's daytime proceedings.
Several senior Indian leaders attended the event, including Union ministers Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal, Ashwini Vaishnaw and Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and several chief ministers were also present.
While the dinner was designed to showcase India’s regional culinary traditions to visiting leaders, the all-vegetarian menu has now become a political talking point, with opposition leaders questioning whether the selection adequately reflected India’s diverse food culture.
The controversy has added a domestic political dimension to an otherwise high-profile diplomatic event, as the BRICS Summit continues to draw attention for its discussions on global cooperation, economic development and international relations.
Reader Comments 0