New Delhi (GNP): Viral footage from the 18th BRICS Summit, held in New Delhi from September 12 to 13, has taken over Indian social media after clips showed two senior officials snacking during addresses by foreign leaders, sparking a wave of memes alongside sharper political criticism.
One clip showed Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal seated behind Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, eating nuts and pistachios and licking his fingers between bites, before someone eventually removed the snack box from view.
A separate clip captured National Security Advisor Ajit Doval seated behind Russian President Vladimir Putin during his address to the summit, similarly snacking through the session.
The BRICS Summit, which brings together leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is typically covered for its diplomatic agenda rather than its snack table. This year, however, the two moments briefly overshadowed the geopolitics on stage.
Social media users turned the clips into a wave of memes, with captions like “Mission: Find the Snacks” and “BRICS Buffet” framing the moments as scenes from a real-life diplomatic thriller.
Not everyone found it amusing. Veteran journalist Ravish Kumar criticised the online reaction, arguing that feeling hungry during a long summit is entirely normal, especially when snacks are deliberately placed on tables for attendees who may be missing meals due to packed schedules.
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The clips also drew political commentary. AICC Bihar Communication Coordinator Ritu Choudhary criticised Doval’s conduct during the high-profile session, questioning the decorum on display during a moment broadcast to a global audience.
Defenders of the officials pushed back against the criticism, pointing out that dry fruits and snacks are routinely provided at long diplomatic events specifically because delegates often cannot step away for proper meals amid tightly packed summit schedules.
Choudhary said, “Those who claim the mantle of world guru don’t even know basic courtesy, let alone anything about decorum and protocols.
Managing Editor at Global News Pakistan (GNP), with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Riphah International University, graduated with a Gold Medal. Reach out at sabahtareengnp@gmail.com
