At the recent BRICS summit held in India, a meatless dinner served to attending world leaders drew criticism from some Indian political figures who viewed the menu as an incomplete reflection of the country’s culinary diversity. The meal, which featured vegetarian dishes such as paneer cubes simmered in gravy, Himalayan morel mushrooms with saffron, and lentil broth with tomatoes and curry leaves, notably excluded any meat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s political opponents quickly voiced their concerns. Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition in the lower house of Parliament, highlighted on social media that the majority of Indians are not vegetarian and questioned the decision to exclude meat from the menu. This prompted a rebuttal from Kiren Rijiju, a minister within Modi’s government, who defended the choice of dishes as representative of India’s rich and varied regional vegetarian traditions. He also criticized the opposition for politicizing the menu served to foreign leaders.

The issue of vegetarianism and meat consumption carries significant cultural and religious weight in India. While vegetarianism is common among certain Hindu communities, particularly in northern and western parts of the country and among higher castes, many Hindus do include meat in their diets. Food choices have become increasingly politicized during Modi’s tenure, reflecting the government’s broader promotion of Hindu nationalist causes.

This was not an isolated incident. Earlier this year, visiting dignitaries such as Seychelles President Patrick Herminie and Vietnam President To Lam were also served vegetarian meals during their visits to New Delhi. Modi himself is a strict vegetarian and abstains from alcohol, and his personal dietary preferences have influenced protocols at public and private events, including the removal of alcohol from view.

Diplomatic meals serve as a subtle but significant form of cultural and political communication. Experts note that menus can be designed to highlight aspects of the host country’s identity or to honor visiting leaders. For instance, at the 2018 Singapore summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the meal included dishes catering to both leaders’ cultural backgrounds. Similarly, during India’s hosting of the Group of 20 summit in 2023, the dinner prominently featured millet grains, aligning with India’s successful initiative to have the United Nations declare 2023 as the “International Year of Millets.”

However, diplomatic menus can also spark controversy if not carefully managed. An example cited from 2017 involved South Korea serving shrimp caught near disputed islands during President Trump’s visit, which led to complaints from Japan. Ultimately, while state dinners aim to foster goodwill and dialogue, they can become flashpoints when cultural and political sensitivities intersect.