Dinner diplomacy: Rahul Gandhi’s ‘80% non-veg’ remark puts BRICS feast on political menu, BJP hits back | Today’s news
Congress president Rahul Gandhi sparked a row on September 13 when he said that 80 percent of Indians are non-vegetarian and Indian non-vegetarian food is delicious.
All meals served at Bharat Mandapam are usually vegetarian. The guests had non-vegetarian food including the famous Galouti Kebabs at the hotels where they were staying.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha made the comments a day after an all-vegetarian spread was served at the BRICS summit gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
In a post on social media platforms X, Facebook and Instagram, Gandhi wrote, “For the record: 80% of Indians are non-vegetarian. Indian non-vegetarian food is delicious. Like my sister’s chole bhature.” He also posted a picture of chole bhature on the dining table.
Rahul’s remarks drew a response from the Bharatiya Janata Party. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said all the guests “taste Indian vegetarian cuisine that is rich in flavor and nutritional diversity with various regional traditions”.
“I can’t believe that the Congress party is doing politics even on the menu served to BRICS leaders. Our guests enjoyed Indian vegetarian cuisine which is rich in taste and nutritional diversity with various regional traditions,” Rijiju said in a post on X.
What was on the menu?
On Saturday – the first day of the two-day BRICS summit hosted by India – guests at the Bharat Mandapam were served ‘Khandvi mille’, a steamed gram flour feuille roll, and ‘khumb galouti’, grilled mushroom kebabs with mint pearls, as appetizers.
The main course offered ‘paneer lababdar’, ‘gucchi marmik’ – Himalayan morels and mild asparagus – and ‘carrot bean poriyal’.
Other items on the menu included ‘thakkali belle saaru’ – light lentil broth, millet pulao, beetroot raita and various Indian breads. As for desserts, “Old Delhi Fruit Cream with Jalebi” and “shahtoot phirni” concluded the menu for the VVIP guests.
The gala dinner was served accompanied by a performance by an ensemble of more than 100 artists, mostly from India and other BRICS member countries.
Xi, Prince of Abu Dhabi did not attend
Chinese President Xi Jinping skipped a gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for BRICS leaders, other countries participating in the BRICS summit and international organizations on Saturday, sources briefed on the matter said.
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammedwho went home after attending the BRICS summit during the day, was also a notable absentee from the high dinner table.
Russian President Vladimir Putinhowever, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi attended the dinner.
(With input from agencies)
