The BRICS Summit 2026, hosted by India in New Delhi, has drawn consideration for a lot of reasons- together with its controversial menu. A revelation of the dishes served to international dignitaries and world leaders on the summit has turn out to be a pointy level of competition and debate within the nation as a result of resolution to serve solely vegetarian dishes.
The difficulty has now drawn a response from Iceland’s former President, Olafur Ragnar Grimmson, as properly who took to social media to share an anecdote concerning his expertise with an Indian chief and all-vegetarian menu.
Iceland’s former president chips in on BRICS menu debate
In response to a social media submit explaining the “fastidiously curated elements” of the BRICS menu, Grimmson revealed that in his time because the Nordic nation’s president, he too hosted then Indian president APJ Abdul Kalam and served him an all-vegetarian menu, one thing that is robust to do in a meat-eating nation like Iceland.
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“After I hosted the President of #India for State Dinner on the primary such go to to a #Nordic nation, I additionally supplied an all-vegetarian menu. Greater than 20 years in the past! And in #Iceland the place it’s not straightforward to be vegetarian!!” he wrote on his social media deal with.
The submit appeared to allude to a 2005 state dinner hosted for President Kalam in Iceland.
Row over all-vegetarian BRICS menu
Opposition leaders in India have focused the Centre for his or her number of an all-vegetarian food plan. Avoiding any name-dropping, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi took an oblique jab on the BRICS Summit menu by sharing a photograph of home-cooked chole bhature with the caption, “For the document: 80% of Indians are non-vegetarian. Indian non-vegetarian meals is scrumptious. As are my sister’s chole bhature.”
Congress chief Pawan Khera replied to Gandhi’s submit by launching a pointy assault on BJP. “The BJP’s behavior of imposing its dietary preferences on fellow Indians is already deeply problematic. Now, they’ve taken it a step additional by imposing their very own selections on dignitaries from the world over,” he wrote, together with a picture of the BRICS Summit menu.
“India is a wealthy, various, multi-cuisine nation, dwelling to among the best non-vegetarian delicacies that folks the world over relish and revel in. So why did the Modi authorities select to cover this a part of India’s tradition? Is it ashamed of the range that makes India what it’s?”
BRICS Summit menu dishes
The BRICS Summit menu featured a protracted checklist of all-vegetarian dishes beginning with Khandvi Mille-Feuille, a steamed gram-flour roll tempered with mustard, coconut and curry leaves, and Khumb Galouti, tender pan-grilled mushroom kebabs served with mint pearls and sheermal.
The primary course featured Paneer Lababdar, Gucchi Marmik made with Himalayan morel mushrooms and asparagus, Carrot Bean Poriyal with South Indian spices and coconut, Thakkali Belle Saaru, millet pulao, beetroot raita and diverse Indian breads.
The dinner concluded with desserts together with Outdated Delhi Fruit Cream with Jalebi and Shahtoot Phirni, a slow-cooked milk-and-rice pudding topped with mulberries and gold leaf.
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Notably, Chinese President Xi Jinping remained absent at the BRICS gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a PTI supply suggesting that he had retired again to his lodge to relaxation. Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed too was absent on the dinner since he departed again dwelling as quickly because the summit concluded.
A number of Union ministers together with Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal, Ashwini Vaishnaw and Shivraj Singh Chouhan had been additionally current on the dinner together with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and chief ministers like Yogi Adityanath (Uttar Pradesh), Devendra Fadnavis (Maharashtra), Suvendu Adhikari (West Bengal) and Himanta Biswa Sarma (Assam).