Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's social media posts on the all-vegetarian dinner menu at the BRICS Summit in New Delhi have triggered a sharp political debate, with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders accusing him of undermining India's diplomatic achievements and the Samajwadi Party (SP) backing his broader point on food diversity.

Gandhi's Post and the Controversy

Following an all-vegetarian dinner served at the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Gandhi took to his social media handles to highlight India's dietary diversity. 'For the record: 80% of Indians are non-vegetarian. Indian non-vegetarian food is delicious. As are my sister's chole bhature,' he wrote, accompanying the post with a picture of chole bhature on a dining table. The remark quickly drew fire from BJP leaders across states.

BJP's Response: Focus on Diplomatic Wins

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Gandhi appeared incapable of appreciating the country's diplomatic successes. 'I believe that when someone is narrow-minded and feels hurt even by their own country's success, they make such statements,' Fadnavis claimed. He pointed to the unanimous adoption of the Delhi Declaration — signed by all BRICS member nations including China and Russia — as the summit's defining achievement. 'The Global South strongly welcomed the declaration that directly condemned Pakistan and terrorism. There cannot be a greater strategic or diplomatic victory than this,' he added.

Madhya Pradesh Minister Vishwas Sarang also criticised Gandhi, arguing that the Leader of the Opposition in the world's largest democracy should rise above partisan politics when commenting on an international event. 'He should talk about the issues discussed at the BRICS Summit, but he is talking about the food menu. I wonder who his advisers are and when he will understand...' Sarang said.

SP Backs Food Diversity Argument

SP MP Awadhesh Prasad offered a contrasting view, stressing the importance of respecting India's plural food traditions. 'All kinds of food should be respected. Our country is a large and diverse nation with different types of attire and different kinds of food. We should respect all kinds of food. Our traditions and beliefs should also be preserved,' Prasad said.

The Broader Political Context

This comes amid a wider pattern of opposition-government sparring over the optics and outcomes of high-profile international events hosted by India. Notably, the BRICS Summit's Delhi Declaration — with its explicit condemnation of terrorism — has been cited by the ruling coalition as a landmark foreign policy win, particularly given its unanimous endorsement by member nations sometimes at odds with India's positions. Critics argue, however, that Gandhi's post was less an attack on diplomacy and more a comment on cultural representation at state events. The exchange reflects how domestic identity politics increasingly intersect with the optics of global summits.

With the summit now concluded, political attention is likely to shift to the implementation of the Delhi Declaration's commitments — and whether the diplomatic momentum translates into tangible outcomes.