The elaborate menu featured everything from khandvi mille-feuille and mushroom galouti to paneer lababdar, Himalayan morels, millet pulao, beetroot raita, jalebi and shahtoot phirni. So the menu itself did present a celebration of India’s culinary diversity but soon became a political talking point with Opposition leaders questioning why non-vegetarian dishes were left out when meat, fish and eggs are an important part of India’s food culture. Rahul Gandhi also weighed in, highlighting the country’s non-vegetarian eating habits, while the BJP defended the vegetarian spread as a showcase of India’s regional cuisine. “You want to promote vegetarianism, go ahead – absolutely do that – but don’t limit India’s food culture to just a vegetarian menu,” said Congress’ Waris Pathan.
