Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday spoke to singer Mika Singh over the controversy surrounding state minister Subodh Uniyal’s public reprimand of Daler Mehndi during a performance, saying any misunderstanding could be resolved through dialogue.
Dhami said he had spoken to Mika, Daler Mehndi’s brother, and stressed that the matter should be settled amicably. Mika had earlier demanded an apology from Uniyal and urged the chief minister to intervene.
In a post on X, Dhami said, “Today, I had a telephonic conversation with the renowned singer Mika Singh. While discussing matters concerning Daler Mehndi, I emphasised that any misunderstandings should be resolved through mutual dialogue and cordiality.”
He added that Uttarakhand, known as Devbhoomi, upheld the tradition of Atithi Devo Bhava, or treating guests as divine, and that artists were always welcomed and respected in the state.
Earlier, speaking at a press conference in Dehradun, Dhami said he would also speak to Daler Mehndi and described both singers as his friends. He suggested that Uniyal might have been under pressure from the audience during the incident.
“I believe the minister must have been under pressure from the public at that time. The minister himself has stated that he was unaware that Daler Mehndi was unwell,” Dhami said.
WHAT HAPPENED AT KUNJAPURI FAIR?
The controversy erupted on Sunday night when Uniyal went on stage during Daler Mehndi’s performance at the Siddhpeeth Maa Kunjapuri Tourism and Development Fair in Narendra Nagar, in the New Tehri area.
A video of the incident, which went viral on social media, showed the minister questioning the singer’s condition and asking whether he was drunk because he appeared unable to speak properly. Mehndi, 59, was heard apologising.
The incident drew criticism from several members of the entertainment industry, who backed the singer and called for artists to be treated with dignity and respect.
Mika Singh, in a post on Thursday, said Uniyal should apologise to his brother. He also said Mehndi had agreed to perform at the event after another singer, Sunanda Sharma, fell ill.
Mika said it was painful to see his brother being accused of being drunk while performing on stage. He appealed to Dhami to intervene, adding that artists deserved dignity and respect.
MINISTER SAYS HE THOUGHT SINGER WAS UNDER INFLUENCE
Uniyal, who faced criticism over his conduct, said on Wednesday that Mehndi should have informed the organisers in advance that he was unwell and should not have come to perform.
Speaking to PTI, the minister said he had expected the singer to perform at the fair but felt that Mehndi was lip-syncing rather than singing live. As a local representative associated with the organising committee, he said he felt pressure from people who wanted the matter questioned.
Uniyal also claimed that Mehndi appeared unable to speak or walk properly, leading him to suspect that the singer was under the influence of a substance. He acknowledged, however, that no medical examination had been conducted.
The minister said he later learnt that Mehndi had been unable to speak because he was unwell.
Dhami’s intervention comes amid calls for Uniyal to apologise, with the chief minister urging both sides to resolve the dispute through dialogue.
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