Rahul Gandhi Takes Dig at BRICS Dinner Menu, Says ‘80% of Indians Are Non-Vegetarian’
Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at the BRICS gala dinner menu in New Delhi, saying Indian non-vegetarian cuisine deserved a place at the event. 'For the record: 80% of Indians are non-vegetarian. Indian non-vegetarian food is delicious. As are my sister’s chole bhature,' he wrote on X as PM Modi hosted BRICS leaders and dignitaries.
Leader of the Opposition (LoP) and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at the menu served at the BRICS gala dinner in New Delhi, saying Indian non-vegetarian cuisine should have been represented at a dinner showcasing the country's culinary traditions. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Gandhi highlighted what he described as the absence of non-vegetarian dishes from the spread prepared for visiting world leaders.
“For the record: 80% of Indians are non-vegetarian. Indian non-vegetarian food is delicious. As are my sister’s chole bhature," Rahul Gandhi wrote. His post came as Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted leaders and other dignitaries attending the BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam on Saturday evening. BRICS Gala Dinner: What’s on the Special Menu Served to World Leaders at Bharat Mandapam?
Rahul Gandhi Takes Dig at BRICS Dinner Menu
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
Vegetarian Menu Featured Regional Specialities
The gala dinner menu featured a wide selection of vegetarian dishes representing different parts of India, with preparations drawing on regional flavours as well as culinary traditions associated with Old Delhi.
The starters included Khandvi Mille-Feuille, a steamed gram-flour preparation served with kesar mango, yoghurt dressing and micro-greens. Another starter was Khumb Galouti, a pan-grilled mushroom kebab served on sheermal. What’s on the BRICS Summit 2026 Menu for World Leaders? Here’s What They’re Being Served.
Main Course Included Indian Regional Dishes
The main course featured Paneer Lababdar and Gucchi Marmik, a preparation featuring Himalayan morel mushrooms and asparagus. The menu also included Carrot Bean Poriyal and Thakkali Belle Saaru, along with millet pulao and beetroot raita. Assorted Indian breads accompanied the main-course dishes.
The dessert selection included Old Delhi Fruit Cream with Jalebi and Shahtoot Phirni topped with mulberries and gold leaf. Gandhi's comments focused on the representation of non-vegetarian food at an international dinner hosted in India.
His post also included a reference to his sister's chole bhature, adding a personal note to his criticism of the menu. The remarks came against the backdrop of a summit at which India sought to showcase its role in the expanded BRICS grouping and strengthen cooperation among member countries.
BRICS Leaders Adopt New Delhi Declaration
The BRICS Summit concluded with leaders adopting the New Delhi Declaration, covering a range of issues including global governance, trade and investment, food and energy security, healthcare, disaster resilience, technology and critical supply chains.
India, which holds the BRICS chairship in 2026, also pushed initiatives focused on strengthening cooperation among member countries, with greater emphasis on the Global South.
The agenda included practical cooperation in areas such as health, agriculture, technology and disaster management, alongside efforts to build more resilient supply chains.
The summit brought together leaders of the expanded BRICS grouping as India sought to position the bloc as a platform for deeper economic and strategic cooperation. New Delhi also advocated reforms in global institutions, while placing greater emphasis on the interests and priorities of countries in the Global South.
Against that broader diplomatic backdrop, Gandhi's comments about the gala dinner menu added a domestic political dimension to the summit, focusing attention on how India's diverse culinary traditions were represented at the event.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 13, 2026 04:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
