Naraaz fufas can only criticise: BJP after Congress jabs all-veg BRICS dinner menu

An all-vegetarian BRICS dinner menu sparks a political clash, with Rahul Gandhi pointing to India's non-vegetarian population and the BJP questioning the Congress's priorities.

In Short

• Modi hosted BRICS delegates at Bharat Mandapam with an elaborate vegetarian spread
• Rahul Gandhi said most Indians are non-vegetarian and praised chole bhature
• Pawan Khera accused the BJP of imposing dietary choices on dignitaries

A vegetarian feast served to BRICS leaders at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s gala dinner has triggered a political spat, with Rahul Gandhi pointing out that 80 per cent of Indians are non-vegetarian and the BJP accusing the Congress of having little to criticise about the summit beyond its food menu.

PM Modi hosted the BRICS leaders and delegates for the gala dinner at Bharat Mandapam on Saturday, where guests were served an elaborate all-vegetarian spread featuring dishes such as paneer lababdar, Himalayan morel mushrooms, millet pulao, beetroot raita, jalebi and shahtoot phirni.

On Sunday, Gandhi posted on X, Facebook and Instagram, “For the record: 80% of Indians are non-vegetarian. Indian non-vegetarian food is delicious. As are my sister's chole bhature.”

He also shared a picture of chole bhature on a dining table, but did not directly refer to the BRICS dinner in his post.

The remarks drew a sharp response from the BJP, which accused the Congress of being unhappy with India’s growing diplomatic influence.

BJP CALLS CONGRESS ‘SULKING’

BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said the focus on the menu showed that the opposition had little to criticise about the summit itself.

“When the opposition has nothing except the food menu to criticise about the summit, it tells you how successful BRICS has been,” Bhandari said.

“Congress is sulking to see India emerge as a global consensus builder,” he wrote on X.

Another BJP national spokesperson, Tuhin Sinha, accused Gandhi and the Congress of making “petty and frivolous” remarks.

Sinha said the comments reflected why the Congress was “on the margins” and had become a “fringe group”.

“If there were any responsible or sensible Leader of Opposition in the country, he would have congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India today. What India has achieved through the New Delhi Resolution is historic. For the first time, all BRICS nations were seen standing united with one voice on all serious global issues. This had not happened before,” he told PTI.

“But Rahul Gandhi -- expecting him to offer congratulations would be too much -- made the same frivolous remarks, the same petty comments for which he has always been known, and is now taking the mentality of a ‘naraz fufa’ (disgruntled uncle) to the global stage,” Sinha said.

He also questioned whether Congress chief ministers had skipped the dinner because they did not get food of their choice.

“Your chief ministers were also invited to the dinner yesterday. Did they not attend only because they did not get the food of their choice? And did Chinese President Xi Jinping WhatsApp you to say that he did not like the food?” Sinha said.

“When India is achieving such major successes and India's respect and prestige are growing across the world, the kind of petty and frivolous remarks Rahul Gandhi is making reflect his mentality as well as that of the Congress party,” he added.

BJP’S ‘NARAAZ FUFA’ JIBE

BJP leader Amit Malviya also mocked the Congress over its focus on the dinner menu, saying the party had overlooked the diplomatic and economic aspects of the summit.

“All that the Naraaz Foofas could find to criticise about India hosting BRICS was the dinner menu,” Malviya said in a social media post.

“Not the diplomacy. Not the global partnerships. Not the economic agenda. Not India’s growing influence,” he added.

He then quipped, “Global summit. Historic moment. International diplomacy. Naraaz Foofa: ‘But ?’”

The political exchange over the menu comes as India hosts the BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam on September 12-13, with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other heads of state attending the summit.

CONGRESS QUESTIONS ALL-VEGETARIAN MENU

Gandhi’s post came after Congress media and publicity department head Pawan Khera directly attacked the BJP over the choice of cuisine served at the dinner.

Sharing a screenshot of the menu on X, Khera said the BJP’s approach to dietary choices had now extended from Indians to foreign dignitaries.

“The BJP's habit of imposing its dietary preferences on fellow Indians is already deeply problematic. Now, they have taken it a step further by imposing their own choices on dignitaries from across the world,” Khera said.

Khera said India was a “rich, diverse, multi-cuisine country” with some of the finest non-vegetarian delicacies enjoyed across the world.

“So why did the Modi government choose to hide this part of India's culture,” he asked.

“Is it ashamed of the diversity that makes India what it is,” Khera said.

WHAT WAS ON THE BRICS DINNER MENU?

The gala dinner featured an entirely vegetarian menu showcasing dishes from different parts of India.

The starters included khandvi mille, described as a feuille steamed gram-flour roll tempered with mustard, coconut and curry leaves, served with kesar mango, micro-greens and yoghurt dressing.

The other starter, khumb galouti, consisted of pan-grilled mushroom kebabs with mint pearls, served on sheermal bread.

The main course included paneer lababdar, soft cottage cheese cubes simmered in a rich shallot and tomato gravy; gucchi marmik, featuring Himalayan morel mushrooms and tender asparagus cooked with saffron, raisins and mamra almonds; and carrot bean poriyal, made with carrots and green beans toasted in South Indian spices and coconut.

The spread also included thakkali belle saaru, a light lentil broth made with toor dal, tomatoes and curry leaves; millet pulao; beetroot raita; and assorted Indian breads.

For dessert, guests were served Old Delhi fruit cream with jalebi and shahtoot phirni, a slow-cooked milk and rice pudding topped with mulberries and gold leaf.

The dinner was accompanied by a performance by an ensemble of more than 100 artistes, drawn largely from India as well as other BRICS member countries.

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