The vegetarian menu served at the 2026 BRICS Summit in New Delhi has triggered a political debate in India, with Opposition leaders questioning the decision to serve only vegetarian food to visiting world leaders and dignitaries.
The controversy gained an unexpected international angle after former Iceland President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson recalled his own experience of hosting former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam more than two decades ago.
India hosted the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from September 11 to 13. Among the features that attracted attention was the carefully curated all-vegetarian menu prepared for the summit.
Responding to a social media post describing the menu and its ingredients, Grimsson said that he had also served an entirely vegetarian meal when Kalam visited Iceland during his presidency.
“When I hosted the President of #India for State Dinner on the first such visit to a #Nordic country, I also offered an all-vegetarian menu,” Grimsson wrote on social media, recalling the occasion more than 20 years ago. He added that providing a vegetarian menu was not easy in Iceland, a country where meat traditionally forms an important part of the diet.
His remarks appeared to refer to the state dinner hosted for Kalam during his visit to Iceland in 2005. The former president's recollection has since become part of the wider discussion surrounding the BRICS menu.
Opposition questions menu choice
The decision to serve only vegetarian dishes at the summit has drawn criticism from Opposition leaders. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi indirectly commented on the controversy by posting a photograph of home-cooked chole bhature. He wrote that a large majority of Indians eat non-vegetarian food while also praising Indian cuisine.
Congress leader Pawan Khera was more direct in his criticism. He accused the BJP of imposing its dietary preferences and questioned why India's non-vegetarian culinary traditions were not represented at an international gathering.
The debate has centred on whether an international summit hosted by India should showcase the country's entire culinary diversity or whether the hosts were justified in selecting a vegetarian menu for diplomatic and cultural reasons.
What was on the BRICS menu?
The summit menu featured a range of Indian vegetarian dishes presented in an elaborate format.
The starters included Khandvi Mille-Feuille, prepared using steamed gram-flour rolls with mustard, coconut and curry leaves, along with Khumb Galouti, a mushroom-based kebab.
The main course included Paneer Lababdar, Gucchi Marmik featuring Himalayan morel mushrooms and asparagus, Carrot Bean Poriyal, Thakkali Belle Saaru, millet pulao, beetroot raita and assorted Indian breads.
Desserts included Old Delhi Fruit Cream served with jalebi and Shahtoot Phirni, a traditional milk-and-rice preparation topped with mulberries.
The gala dinner also saw some notable absences. Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly returned to his hotel to rest and did not attend the dinner. Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed also left for home after the summit.
Several senior Indian leaders attended the dinner, 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.
The menu controversy has therefore added a cultural dimension to an otherwise significant diplomatic gathering, with Grimsson's recollection of Kalam providing an unexpected historical perspective to the debate.
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