New Delhi: The Indian National Congress has escalated its criticism of the central government's handling of diplomatic protocol at the recent BRICS Summit, targeting what it called an insensitivity toward international guests in favor of political messaging.
The controversy centres on the gala dinner organized by the Government of India for leaders and delegates attending the BRICS meeting. According to Congress sources, the menu served consisted entirely of vegetarian dishes — with no meat or fish options available — a decision that has drawn fire from opposition leaders who view it as an inappropriate conflation of domestic political ideology with diplomatic courtesy.
Rahul Gandhi, the Congress president, took to social media to express his dismay, pointing out that roughly 80 percent of India's population consumes non-vegetarian food. "It is embarrassing to see a government that represents the majority of Indians serving only vegetarian meals to our international guests," Gandhi wrote, adding that India's culinary diversity — which includes world-renowned meat and seafood dishes from regions across the country — was being ignored.
Pawan Khera, senior Congress spokesperson, went further, describing the move as "deeply problematic" and questioning the rationale behind it. In a statement, he argued that hosting foreign dignitaries is about making them feel welcome and respecting their preferences, not about projecting a particular ideological or dietary stance. "When world leaders come to India, they expect to experience the richness of Indian cuisine, not a narrowly defined version of it," Khera said.
The Congress also raised concerns about whether the decision reflected broader patterns of imposing特定 political or cultural preferences through state institutions. Critics within the party have pointed to similar incidents in the past where government functions, particularly those with a diplomatic or national importance, have featured exclusively vegetarian menus despite repeated requests from participating delegations for more inclusive options.
BRICS — comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and several newer member nations — brings together leaders from diverse cultural and culinary traditions. Many of the participating countries have strong non-vegetarian food cultures, making the all-vegetarian menu a notable omission in the eyes of observers and opposition politicians alike.
Government sources have not yet issued a detailed response to the Congress's criticism, but officials close to the安排 suggested that the menu was designed to accommodate a range of dietary restrictions, including Jain-specific requirements and other religious素食 preferences. However, Congress leaders have dismissed this explanation, arguing that even a single non-vegetarian option could have been included without compromising any religious sensibilities.
The debate has reignited a longstanding discussion about the role of vegetarianism in Indian public life and whether it should be treated as a default standard in official functions — a question that continues to draw sharp partisan divisions.
