Archive · 13 Sep 2026
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 dinner served only vegetarian Indian food.
The menu included dishes made with paneer, mushrooms, millet, lentils, vegetables and sweets.
Congress leaders said the meal did not show all of India’s food traditions.
They said non-vegetarian choices should have been offered to international guests.
Rahul Gandhi said that 80% of Indians eat non-vegetarian food, although research cited in the reports gives a more complicated picture.
The BJP said the guests enjoyed the vegetarian dishes and that the Opposition was making politics out of food.
The disagreement became part of a larger political argument about the BRICS summit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted a BRICS gala dinner at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Saturday.
The dinner offered an entirely vegetarian menu featuring regional dishes, millet, paneer, mushrooms, lentils and Indian desserts.
Congress accused the BJP-led government of imposing its dietary preferences and hiding India’s non-vegetarian culinary diversity.
Rahul Gandhi said 80% of Indians are non-vegetarian, while research cited in the reports found more nuanced dietary patterns.
The BJP defended the meal as flavorful and nutritionally varied, accusing the Opposition of politicising food and ignoring the summit’s outcomes.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted the dinner; Congress and other Opposition leaders criticised the menu, while BJP leaders defended it.
- What
- An all-vegetarian menu at a BRICS gala dinner prompted debate over dietary choice and the representation of India’s culinary diversity.
- When
- The dinner was held on Saturday, with criticism and responses reported on Saturday and Sunday.
- Where
- Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
- Why
- Opposition leaders said excluding non-vegetarian food concealed part of India’s culinary diversity; the BJP said the vegetarian meal represented 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 excluded an important part of India’s diverse culinary culture and questioned why non-vegetarian delicacies were omitted.
BJP defense
The BJP said the menu showcased flavorful, nutritious vegetarian food and diverse regional Indian traditions.
Options for foreign guests
Opposition criticism
Opposition leaders, including Mahua Moitra and Priyanka Chaturvedi, said visiting dignitaries should have been offered dietary choices, including non-vegetarian food.
BJP defense
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the guests enjoyed the vegetarian meal and accused Congress of politicising food served at the event.
Political significance
Opposition criticism
Congress framed the menu as an example of the BJP imposing dietary preferences and questioned whether the government was hiding India’s cultural diversity.
BJP defense
BJP spokespersons said the Opposition was focusing on a food menu because it had little to criticise about the BRICS summit and India’s reported consensus-building role.
Claim about non-vegetarians
Opposition criticism
Rahul Gandhi said 80% of Indians are non-vegetarian and praised Indian non-vegetarian food, while Congress used the claim to highlight dietary diversity.
BJP defense
The fact-check cited in the reports said it was inaccurate to state categorically that exactly 80% of Indians are non-vegetarian, noting differences between self-identification and reported consumption.
- Host
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi
- Event
- BRICS Summit gala dinner
- Venue
- Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
- Menu
- Entirely vegetarian, including khandvi mille, khumb galouti, paneer lababdar, millet pulao and Indian desserts
- Congress criticism
- The government was accused of imposing its dietary preferences and hiding India’s non-vegetarian culinary culture
- BJP response
- BJP leaders said guests relished vegetarian cuisine with rich flavors, nutritional variety and diverse regional traditions
- Dietary data
- A Pew survey cited in the reports found 39% of Indian adults identified as vegetarian; NFHS-5 data found 83.4% of men and 70.6% of women aged 15-49 reported consuming fish, chicken or meat daily, weekly or occasionally
