Digital Desk, Busted. The menu of the dinner organized during the BRICS summit held in New Delhi has now become a point of political debate. Only vegetarian dishes were served at the dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for BRICS leaders and delegates at the Bharat Mandapam. Rhetoric has started between Congress and BJP regarding this.
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Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Sunday targeted the government on social media over the dinner menu. He claimed that about 80 percent of the country's population eats non-veg. In the same post, while praising Indian non-veg food, he also shared a picture of Chole-Bhatura and mentioned the Chole-Bhatura made by his sister.
For the record: 80% of Indians are non-vegetarian.
Indian non-vegetarian food is delicious. As are my sister's chole bhature. pic.twitter.com/8f6ziKjLan
—Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 13, 2026
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Congress asked- Why not show the full diversity of Indian cuisine to foreign guests?
After Rahul Gandhi's statement, Congress' Media and Publicity Department head Pawan Kheda also raised questions on the government regarding this issue. He said that the food culture of India is very wide and many types of non-veg dishes are popular along with vegetarian in different parts of the country.
Kheda raised the question that when top leaders from BRICS countries had reached India, why non-veg dishes from different parts of the country were not given a place in the dinner. He alleged that BJP is trying to impose its food preferences on others. The Congress leader also said that the matter is not only about the preferences of the people of the country, but also about presenting the diverse food traditions of India to the guests from abroad.
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.
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India is a rich, diverse, multi-cuisine country, home to some of the… pic.twitter.com/8OfRgUdFar
— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 पवन खेरा (@Pawankhera) September 13, 2026
BJP said- discussion on food instead of achievements of the conference
After Congress's attack, BJP also retaliated. Party spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said that if the opposition has only the dinner menu left to criticize such a big international conference, then it in itself shows the success of the conference.
When opposition has nothing except the food menu to criticize in the summit; it tells you how successful BRICS has been.
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Congress is sulking to see India emerge as global consensus builder😁
— Pradeep Bhandari(Pradeep Bhandari)🇮🇳 (@pradip103) September 13, 2026
BJP spokesperson Tuhin Sinha termed Rahul Gandhi's remarks as unnecessary politics. He said that the opposition should have congratulated the Prime Minister and India for the successful organization of the conference. According to him, in the New Delhi Declaration, BRICS countries put forward a common stance on many important global issues.
Rijiju said- guests enjoyed Indian vegetarian dishes
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also joined the controversy. Taking aim at Congress, he said that even the meal of BRICS representatives is being made a subject of politics. According to Rijiju, the foreign guests enjoyed the Indian vegetarian cuisine and the country's diverse food traditions offered many tasty yet nutritious options.
I can't believe that Congress party is making politics even on the food menu served to the leaders of BRICS nations. Our guests relished Indian vegetarian cuisine which are rich in flavor and nutritional variety with diverse regional traditions. https://t.co/oq1MJwXX9l
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— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) September 13, 2026
In fact, Prime Minister Modi had organized a dinner for BRICS leaders and representatives at Bharat Mandapam on Saturday. Many vegetarian dishes reflecting Indian food were included.
The two-day BRICS summit ended in New Delhi on Sunday. Leaders of 11 member countries participated in this conference hosted by India. Amidst the discussion and shared declarations on global issues at the conference, the dinner plate has now also become a part of the political debate.