A dinner meant to showcase India’s culinary traditions has instead served up a fresh political dispute, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pointing to India’s predominantly non-vegetarian eating habits after an all-vegetarian menu was served at the BRICS Summit dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Gandhi on Sunday took to X with a picture of chole bhature and made a pointed observation: 'For the record: 80% of Indians are non-vegetarian.'

He went on to praise Indian non-vegetarian cuisine, adding a personal touch by saying that his sister’s chole bhature were delicious too.

The remark came a day after Modi hosted BRICS leaders and delegates at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, where guests were served an elaborate vegetarian spread.

Rather than a conventional menu, the dinner sought to put the spotlight on regional Indian flavours and ingredients.

The starters included Khandvi mille, described as a steamed gram-flour roll, and khumb galouti, featuring pan-grilled mushroom kebabs with mint pearls.

The main course continued the vegetarian theme with dishes such as paneer lababdar, gucchi marmik, made with Himalayan morel mushrooms, along with tender asparagus and carrot-bean poriyal.

The spread also included Thakkali belle saaru, a light lentil broth, millet pulao, beetroot raita and assorted Indian breads.

Dessert brought together jelebi with Old Delhi fruit cream and shahtoot phirni.

The menu quickly became a talking point on social media, with the debate moving beyond what was served at the diplomatic dinner to the larger question of how India’s food culture is represented.

The BJP hit back at Gandhi’s intervention. Union minister Kiren Rijiju accused the Congress of turning even the food served to BRICS dignitaries into a political issue.

Rijiju argued that the visiting leaders had enjoyed Indian vegetarian cuisine, which, he said, offered both nutritional variety and a reflection of the country’s diverse regional traditions.

Congress, however, pushed the argument in the opposite direction.

Pawan Khera questioned what he described as the BJP’s tendency to impose its dietary preferences on fellow Indians. He argued that India’s culinary identity extends far beyond vegetarian food and includes a wide range of non-vegetarian delicacies enjoyed across the country.

Khera also questioned why, if India takes pride in its cultural diversity, its non-vegetarian culinary traditions were not represented at the high-profile dinner.

What began as a menu for visiting world leaders has therefore opened another familiar political fault line in India: food, identity and the question of whose culinary preferences are allowed to represent the country.

Gandhi’s '80%' remark has ensured that the BRICS dinner is now being discussed not merely for its diplomatic significance or elaborate vegetarian spread, but also for the political message that different parties believe the menu, and the absence of meat: May convey.