‘Indian non-veg food is delicious’: Rahul Gandhi's veiled dig at BRICS Summit menu | India News - Hindustan Times

**BRICS summit gala dinner sparks political sparring in New Delhi** India hosted the 2024 BRICS leaders’ summit in New Delhi, concluding with a high‑profile gala dinner that showcased a blend of regional dishes. The menu, unveiled by the Ministry of External Affairs, featured millet pulao, paneer lababdar, shahtoot (mulberry) phirni and a selection of non‑vegetarian items, reflecting the country’s culinary diversity. While many delegates, including President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, partook in the feast, Chinese President Xi Jinping was absent from the dinner due to a tight schedule, a detail that drew brief media attention but no diplomatic protest.

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi took to the social‑media platform X to comment on the event, posting that “Indian non‑veg food is delicious” and noting that roughly 80 % of Indians consume meat. His remarks were framed as a subtle jab at the BJP‑led government’s emphasis on vegetarian fare in previous state functions and were interpreted by the party as an attempt to politicise the summit’s culinary choices. The Bharatiya Janata Party swiftly responded, accusing Gandhi of “doing politics over food served to BRICS leaders” and warning that such commentary detracts from the summit’s focus on economic cooperation and geopolitical coordination.

The episode underscores how cultural symbols, even something as seemingly benign as a dinner menu, can become flashpoints in India’s charged partisan environment. Analysts suggest that while the BRICS gathering succeeded in advancing dialogue on trade, technology and security—highlighted by Modi’s warning against the weaponisation of technology—the side‑track over food illustrates the broader challenge of separating domestic political battles from India’s diplomatic engagements on the world stage.