The row that broke out on a festival stage in Uttarakhand has finally cooled down. Uttarakhand minister Subodh Uniyal has apologised to Punjabi pop star Daler Mehndi, a week after he walked up during the singer's performance at a Navratri fair in Tehri Garhwal and accused him of being drunk and lip-syncing. The apology was made over a phone call, according to a statement from Mika Singh's team on Monday, October 26.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had already reached out to both brothers before that, and has invited them to visit Uttarakhand.
What happened at the Kunjapuri fair
The incident took place on October 18, during Daler Mehndi's show at the Siddhpeeth Maa Kunjapuri Tourism and Development Fair in Tehri Garhwal, which was held as part of the Navratri celebrations. Midway through the performance, Uniyal, a cabinet minister in the Dhami government, interrupted the singer on stage.
A video of the confrontation spread quickly on social media. In the clip, the minister questions how Mehndi could sing when he could not even speak properly, and says the crowd had come to be entertained. Speaking to the news agency ANI afterwards, Uniyal alleged that the singer looked disoriented and was only lip-syncing, and said he had been offered Rs 35 lakh for the show.
The allegation that Mehndi was under the influence of alcohol was never independently confirmed, and his family strongly denied it.
Key facts of the row
| Singer | Daler Mehndi |
| Minister | Subodh Uniyal, Uttarakhand cabinet minister |
| Event | Siddhpeeth Maa Kunjapuri Tourism and Development Fair |
| Place | Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand |
| Date of incident | October 18, 2026 (Navratri) |
| Allegations | Lip-syncing and being intoxicated on stage |
| Fee mentioned by minister | Rs 35 lakh offered for the show |
| Apology | Over a phone call, as per Mika Singh's team |
| CM's role | Pushkar Singh Dhami called the brothers and invited them to Uttarakhand |
Film and music industry rallied behind Daler
The public humiliation of a singer who has been part of Indian pop culture since the 1990s did not go down well with his colleagues. Younger brother Mika Singh led the defence. He said Daler stays away from alcohol and had been unwell on the day, and demanded that the minister apologise and clarify his remarks.
Comedian Kapil Sharma and veteran actor Anupam Kher also spoke up for Mehndi, with Kher slamming the way the singer was treated in front of a crowd. Several other singers posted messages of support. Daler's son Gurdeep Mehndi described the incident as very unfortunate and said the family had been under stress.
For many fans, the issue was not whether the show was good or bad, but the way it was handled. Artists said a complaint about a performance should have been raised with the organisers privately rather than on a live stage.
Mika Singh's team welcomes the apology
In its statement, Mika Singh's team said it appreciated that Uniyal had apologised to "Daler Mehndi paaji" over the phone. The team said that respecting artists and their dignity is extremely important, and that it hoped everyone could now put the matter behind them and move forward with mutual respect.
Mika also thanked Chief Minister Dhami, who, he said, had personally called both brothers, apologised on behalf of the minister and spoken to them politely and humbly. According to Mika, the CM invited them to Uttarakhand, and the brothers plan to visit and perform in the state in the near future.
Why this row struck a chord
State-backed fairs and festivals in India regularly hire big-name singers to draw crowds, and politicians are often present on stage as chief guests. The Tehri episode raised uncomfortable questions about how artists are treated at such government events, and whether a public official should step in during a live show at all.
It also showed how quickly a short clip can shape public opinion. Within hours, the video had turned a local fair into a national talking point, and the backlash forced both the minister and the state government to respond.
What happens next
With the apology accepted, both sides appear ready to close the chapter. Uniyal has not issued a separate public statement so far, so it remains to be seen whether he will speak about it himself. Fans will now be watching for the promised Uttarakhand visit by Daler and Mika, which could turn an ugly episode into a goodwill moment for the hill state.
Comments (0)