Political Row Erupts Over All-Vegetarian Menu at BRICS Gala Dinner

A political dispute has emerged following the BRICS Summit gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Bharat Mandapam on September 12, 2026, where an exclusively vegetarian menu was served to international delegates. The decision to provide only vegetarian options has drawn sharp criticism from the Congress party, which accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of imposing its own dietary preferences on foreign dignitaries.

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi addressed the controversy on Sunday, stating, "For the record: 80% Indians are non-vegetarian. Indian non-vegetarian food is delicious. As are my sister's chole bhature." While Mr. Gandhi did not explicitly name the gala dinner in his remarks, the timing of his statement followed the widespread circulation of the menu online. Congress leader Pawan Khera further questioned the government's choice, asking why the administration opted to exclude non-vegetarian delicacies from the culinary showcase.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju responded to the criticism, characterizing the opposition's stance as an attempt to politicize the event. "I cannot believe Congress is doing politics even on food served to Brics leaders," Mr. Rijiju said. He defended the menu by highlighting the quality of the cuisine provided, noting that the guests "relished Indian vegetarian cuisine, which is rich in flavour and nutritional variety with diverse regional traditions."

Other government functionaries suggested that the focus on the menu served as a testament to the overall success of the summit. One official remarked that the fact that the only criticism raised by detractors concerned the food options indicated the broader success of India's diplomatic efforts during the summit. The debate has highlighted a recurring tension between the government's promotion of specific cultural and dietary norms and the opposition's emphasis on India's diverse culinary heritage.

This incident follows recent political friction regarding food-related policies in other regions. Separately, BJP State president Nainar Nagendran recently criticized a circular issued by the Tamil Nadu government regarding the expansion of a school breakfast scheme. Mr. Nagendran argued that the circular, which reportedly advised headmasters to bear the financial burden of the scheme's expansion, was inappropriate. He stated that teachers should focus on education rather than managing government financial obligations, marking another instance where dietary and food-related administrative decisions have become a point of contention between the BJP and its political rivals.