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Rahul Gandhi Sparks Row Over BRICS Vegetarian Dinner

By Drooid · Sep 14, 2026, 4:26 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

India hosted the 2026 BRICS Summit in New Delhi with an all-vegetarian gala dinner.
The Bharat Mandapam dinner served khandvi, paneer lababdar, millet pulao and jalebi on September 11-13.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi posted chole bhature, claiming 80% of Indians are non-vegetarian.
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari dismissed the criticism as sulking and defended the menu.
Congress MP Pawan Khera accused the BJP of imposing its dietary preferences on foreign dignitaries.

History

Historical Context

India’s first G20 summit in New Delhi on 9–10 September 2023, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marked the country’s shift from a postponed 2021-2022 hosting plan to a full presidency after swapping years with Indonesia. The event continued a post-2008 trend of hosts showcasing national culture, shaping diplomatic expectations at later multilateral gatherings.

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Story summary

India hosted the 2026 BRICS Summit in New Delhi with an all-vegetarian gala dinner.
The Bharat Mandapam dinner served khandvi, paneer lababdar, millet pulao and jalebi on September 11-13.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi posted chole bhature, claiming 80% of Indians are non-vegetarian.
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari dismissed the criticism as sulking and defended the menu.
Congress MP Pawan Khera accused the BJP of imposing its dietary preferences on foreign dignitaries.

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