1 hr ago
Opposition Criticises Vegetarian Menu at Modi’s BRICS Dinner
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted a dinner for BRICS leaders and delegates in New Delhi.
The meal included only vegetarian Indian dishes.
Congress leaders said the menu did not show India’s full culinary diversity.
They noted that many Indians eat non-vegetarian food.
Rahul Gandhi said that 80% of Indians are non-vegetarian.
Some opposition leaders said meat dishes should also have been offered to international guests.
The BJP said the guests enjoyed the vegetarian food and criticized the opposition for politicizing the menu.
The disagreement was about whether the dinner should have included both vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted a BRICS gala dinner at Bharat Mandapam on Saturday.
The dinner served an entirely vegetarian menu featuring regional Indian dishes and desserts.
Congress accused the BJP-led government of imposing its dietary preferences on foreign dignitaries.
Rahul Gandhi said 80% of Indians are non-vegetarian and praised India’s non-vegetarian cuisine.
The BJP defended the menu, saying guests enjoyed its flavorful and nutritionally varied vegetarian cuisine.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted BRICS leaders and delegates; Congress and other opposition leaders criticized the menu, while the BJP defended it.
- What
- An all-vegetarian menu was served at a BRICS gala dinner, prompting a political dispute over India’s culinary representation.
- Where
- Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
- When
- The dinner took place Saturday, and the criticism and defense were reported the following day.
- Why
- Opposition leaders said excluding non-vegetarian dishes hid India’s dietary and culinary diversity; the BJP said the vegetarian menu reflected varied regional traditions and was enjoyed by guests.
Opposition criticism
BJP defense
Representation of Indian cuisine
Opposition criticism
Congress and other opposition leaders said the all-vegetarian menu hid India’s diverse culinary culture by excluding non-vegetarian food.
BJP defense
The BJP said vegetarian cuisine offered rich flavors, nutritional variety and diverse regional traditions.
Choice for foreign guests
Opposition criticism
Opposition leaders argued that non-vegetarian options should have been offered to visiting BRICS dignitaries, with some describing the menu as an imposed dietary preference.
BJP defense
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the guests enjoyed the vegetarian meal and accused Congress of politicizing food served to international leaders.
Dietary preferences
Opposition criticism
Rahul Gandhi highlighted that 80% of Indians are non-vegetarian, while Priyanka Chaturvedi said guests should have been offered options.
BJP defense
The government’s menu provided an entirely vegetarian selection that included multiple dishes and desserts from Indian culinary traditions.
Key facts
- Host
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi
- Event
- BRICS Summit gala dinner
- Venue
- Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
- Menu
- Entirely vegetarian, including paneer, millet, mushroom, lentil and regional Indian dishes
- Congress position
- The government imposed its dietary preferences and excluded part of India’s culinary diversity
- BJP position
- The guests enjoyed flavorful, nutritious vegetarian cuisine representing diverse regional traditions
- Rahul Gandhi’s statement
- He said 80% of Indians are non-vegetarian and praised Indian non-vegetarian food
Quotes
Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader and Opposition leader
“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.”
theprint.in
theprint.in
“Would I be a bad MP if I advised the visiting BRICS leaders to give this menu a miss & get security to nip down to the nearest Karims & bring back some Burra Kababs…”
theprint.in
Sources
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