India’s BRICS Summit Sparks Political Debate Over China, Gaza, and Vegetarian Dinner

The BRICS Summit in New Delhi drew sharp domestic commentary as leaders debated India’s foreign policy and the summit’s all‑vegetarian gala dinner. Congress figures Rahul Gandhi and Jairam Ramesh publicly questioned the government’s stance on China and the Gaza conflict, while BJP leaders defended the administration’s approach. Other opposition voices—including former Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, Uttar Pradesh’s Mayawati, and CPI(M) general secretary M. A. Baby—also weighed in on the outcomes of the meeting. The debate unfolded against the backdrop of the summit’s focus on economic cooperation and geopolitical alignment, highlighting divergent views within India’s political landscape on how the country should navigate its relationships with China and the Middle East.