West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, fired back at the Congress over its criticism of the all-vegetarian menu served at the high-profile BRICS Summit dinner, asserting that foreign delegates who actually dined had no grievances and returned praising Indian cuisine. The remarks sharpened a political flashpoint that had drawn in senior figures from both sides of the aisle.

The Dinner That Sparked the Dispute

The BRICS Summit dinner featured more than 10 dishes, with starters including Khumb Galauti and desserts such as Shahdoot Firni and fruit cream with jalebi. The main course was entirely vegetarian, comprising paneer, mushrooms, millet pulao, and beetroot raita — all prepared with contemporary variations. Congress leaders seized on the menu, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government of using a state occasion to advance a vegetarian agenda.

What Rahul Gandhi Said

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in a post on social media platform X, wrote: 'For the record: 80 per cent of Indians are non-vegetarian. Indian non-vegetarian food is delicious. As are my sister's chole bhature.' Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram also reportedly raised objections to the menu choice.

Ghosh's Sharp Rebuttal

Responding to the criticism, Ghosh told reporters: 'Congress has given nothing to the people; it has only looted them. If the public feels it is too much, they will protest. They jump into everything, even expressing concern over what foreign guests will be served at BRICS, asking why beef or chicken wasn't served. Everyone from Rahul Gandhi to Chidambaram had an issue with it. But those who actually ate had no problem; they went home praising the Indian food. So, their mindset needs a change.' He urged Congress leaders to focus on issues of public concern rather than the food preferences of foreign delegates.

UPI Charges: Ghosh Defends New Framework

The minister also weighed in on the proposed 0.4 per cent charge on certain UPI merchant transactions exceeding ₹2,000, arguing that a nominal levy was necessary to sustain the digital payments infrastructure. 'Any company providing services charges a fee. The government's UPI service has provided great convenience, so a minimal fee should be charged to maintain system discipline and generate revenue,' he said. Under the new UPI Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) framework outlined by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the charge applies only to eligible merchant transactions above ₹2,000, is capped at ₹300 per transaction, and leaves person-to-person transfers untouched. The framework is set to come into effect from 15 October. The Finance Ministry has separately directed banks to ensure merchants do not pass the additional cost on to consumers.

West Bengal Revenue Claims

Ghosh additionally claimed that a crackdown on illegal extraction of natural resources — including coal, sand, and timber — in West Bengal had driven a 33 per cent increase in state government revenue. 'Natural resources like coal, sand, and timber in Bengal were being looted for years without yielding revenue for the state. Curbing this theft has led to a 33 per cent increase in government revenue, and this positive trend will continue,' he said. The claim could not be independently verified at the time of publication.

As the debate over the BRICS dinner menu broadens into a wider political exchange, attention will now shift to whether the ruling coalition uses the episode to further consolidate its cultural messaging ahead of upcoming state-level electoral cycles.