NEW DELHI: India faced criticism after serving a vegetarian-only menu to world leaders during the BRICS summit, with opposition figures saying that the government presented a limited version of the country’s food culture.
The New Delhi dinner, attended by leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, featured more than 10 vegetarian dishes, including paneer lababdar, gucchi marmik made with Himalayan morel mushrooms, and beetroot raita.
Menu Draws Debate
According to The Telegraph, opposition leaders accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of promoting a narrow representation of Indian cuisine by serving only vegetarian dishes to visiting leaders.
Congress Party leader Rahul Gandhi said on X that a large majority of Indians consume non-vegetarian food and highlighted the diversity of the country’s culinary traditions.
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
Waris Pathan, a fellow Congress member, said: “You want to promote vegetarianism, go ahead – absolutely do that – but don’t limit India’s food culture to just a vegetarian menu.
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“In India, people eat non-veg; mutton, chicken and fish are just as important in our culinary diversity.”
Pawan Khera, another Congress member, added: “The BJP’s [Bharatiya Janata Party’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.”
Diets fall along caste and religious lines in India, with vegetarianism associated with privileged groups and Hindu nationalists.
India’s government has been accused of projecting the Brahminical Hindu-coded vegetarian diet as the national norm, while sidelining the food cultures of a majority of Indians who eat meat, fish or eggs.
Restrictions have been imposed on meat sales, slaughterhouses, eggs in school meals, or the serving of non-vegetarian food near religious occasions in BJP-ruled states.
The impact is especially significant for Muslims, Dalits, Christians and pastoral communities.
Cultural Discussion
Food practices in India vary widely across regions, communities and traditions. While vegetarian diets are followed by many people, a significant number of Indians also consume non-vegetarian food.
The debate comes amid wider discussions over food choices and cultural representation in India.
This was not the first international event where India served vegetarian cuisine. During the 2023 G20 summit, visiting leaders were also offered vegetarian dishes during official dinners.
