Uttarakhand CM Defends Minister’s Rebuke of Daler Mehndi at Event

WHO:

NDTV - Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said he would speak with singers Daler Mehndi and Mika Singh, whom he described as “good friends of mine.”

NDTV - Uttarakhand Minister and Narendranagar MLA Subodh Uniyal said he confronted Mehndi during his performance at a government-organised fair.

NDTV - Daler Mehndi’s brother Mika Singh called for Uniyal to acknowledge any mistake and apologise. He said Mehndi had agreed to perform after another artist, Sunanda Sharma, fell ill.

NDTV - Actor Manoj Bajpayee said Uniyal should have asked why Mehndi was behaving as he did because “he was not well.”

NDTV - The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Dhami, urging greater sensitivity toward artists and performers.

The Times of India - Congress leader Amarjit Singh, general secretary of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee, called the treatment of Mehndi “deeply unfortunate” and demanded an apology from Uniyal.

The Times of India - Actors Anupam Kher and Vir Das, and singers Shaan, Palash Sen, Gurdas Maan and Alisha Chinai, publicly supported Mehndi. Kher said he had known Mehndi for 25 to 30 years and that Mehndi had been unwell for two to three years.

WHAT:

NDTV - Uniyal said he suspected Mehndi was under the influence of an intoxicant because he appeared unable to walk, but said no medical examination was conducted. He later said he learned Mehndi was unwell and unable to speak.

The Times of India - Uniyal said Mehndi was lip-syncing, not singing, and that he faced pressure from people to question the performance. He said he had no personal intention to hurt Mehndi and had used no foul language.

The Times of India - Uniyal said the artist’s team had required advance payment of Rs 35 lakh and that hotels had been booked in advance.

NDTV - During the exchange, Uniyal accused Mehndi of performing at a Navratri Durga Mata programme after drinking alcohol and said, “You are making a fool of us.” Mehndi replied, “Sir, I request you with folded hands...please leave the stage.” The alcohol allegation was not independently verified.

NDTV - Dhami said the issue should be put to rest and suggested Uniyal had been under public pressure and did not know Mehndi was unwell.

The Times of India - Mika Singh said Mehndi had undergone major surgery; the nature of the illness and surgery was not specified.

WHERE:

NDTV - The incident occurred at the Siddhpeeth Maa Kunjapuri Tourism and Development Fair in Narendra Nagar, in the New Tehri area of Uttarakhand.

WHY:

NDTV - Uniyal said attendees had come to hear Mehndi rather than his team, and that he was pressured to question the performance.

The Times of India - Uniyal argued that Mehndi should have declined to perform if he was unwell.

HOW:

NDTV - Uniyal said he first contacted the event’s anchor, then addressed Mehndi on stage after Mehndi “said something” to him.

The Times of India - Kher said Mehndi does not drink; Mika Singh also said he did not drink and challenged anyone to prove otherwise.

(UPDATED October 22, 2026 14:11 UTC)

Uttarakhand Minister Subodh Uniyal confronted singer Daler Mehndi onstage at a government-organised fair in Narendra Nagar, prompting widespread criticism and support for the performer. Uniyal said he suspected Mehndi was intoxicated because he struggled to walk, but no medical examination took place. He later said he learned Mehndi was unwell and unable to speak. During the exchange, Uniyal accused him of drinking before a religious programme; Mehndi asked him to leave the stage. The alcohol allegation has not been independently verified. Uniyal said he was pressured to question the performance and had no intention of hurting Mehndi. Mika Singh said his brother had agreed to perform after another singer fell ill and had undergone major surgery. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said he would speak with the singers and urged the issue to be put to rest.