Summary
- NEW DELHI: The Indian government is facing criticism over its decision to serve only vegetarian food at the official dinner hosted during the BRICS summit in New Delhi, with opposition leaders accusing the government of overlooking the country’s diverse food culture.
- Another Congress leader, Waris Pathan, said the government could promote vegetarian food but should not seek to limit India’s wider food culture to vegetarian dishes.
- Critics argue that efforts to promote vegetarian food as a national dietary standard can marginalise communities that traditionally consume meat, fish and eggs, including many Muslims, Dalits and Christians.
NEW DELHI: The Indian government is facing criticism over its decision to serve only vegetarian food at the official dinner hosted during the BRICS summit in New Delhi, with opposition leaders accusing the government of overlooking the country’s diverse food culture.
The dinner menu for Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and other international leaders reportedly consisted of 10 dishes, none of which contained meat, fish or eggs.
The decision has triggered a political debate in India, with critics questioning the choice of an exclusively vegetarian menu for a gathering of international leaders. The British newspaper The Telegraph reported that the Narendra Modi government was facing accusations of promoting vegetarian food at the expense of other dietary traditions.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the decision on social media, saying that a large majority of Indians eat meat and highlighting the country’s non-vegetarian cuisine.
Another Congress leader, Waris Pathan, said the government could promote vegetarian food but should not seek to limit India’s wider food culture to vegetarian dishes.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju responded to the criticism by accusing the Congress of politicising the food menu. The exchange added a political dimension to what was otherwise a formal diplomatic dinner.
The controversy also reflects wider debates in India over food, religion and social identity. According to The Telegraph, dietary preferences in India are often linked to caste and religious traditions, with vegetarianism historically associated with sections of the Hindu Brahmin community.
Critics argue that efforts to promote vegetarian food as a national dietary standard can marginalise communities that traditionally consume meat, fish and eggs, including many Muslims, Dalits and Christians.
The issue has also been linked to policies in several BJP-ruled states, where restrictions on the sale of meat and the operation of slaughterhouses have at times been introduced around major Hindu religious festivals.
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