Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal has responded to the backlash over his on-stage confrontation with Daler Mehndi at a cultural event, saying he had no intention of hurting the Punjabi singer. The minister maintained that Mehndi should have informed the organisers about his health if he was unwell and explained that he felt “pressured” to intervene during the performance.Uniyal alleged that Mehndi appeared to be lip-syncing and was struggling to speak and walk properly. He said the singer’s condition led him to suspect that he might be under the influence of a substance. The minister added that he learnt Mehndi was unwell only after he interrupted the performance.“Such a big artiste, he should have informed us about this. This fact was revealed only when he was interrupted. If he was unwell, he should not have come to perform. We were asked to make full payment of ₹35 lakh in advance to the artiste; hotels were also booked in advance. I have nothing personal against Mehndi nor any intention to hurt him, but such a big artiste, knowing his condition, should have refused to perform,” Uniyal told PTI.The minister reiterated that he was “under pressure” in his capacity as the elected representative of the constituency. He also maintained that he had not used any foul language while addressing the singer, adding that artistes should conduct themselves in a manner that preserves their dignity.Uniyal further explained that local performers are given preference at the Kunjapuri Fair, while Bollywood artistes are invited for only two days. Citing singer Sunanda Sharma as an example, he said she had returned her entire fee when she could not perform due to illness.“When Sharma could not come, our team approached Daler Mehndi. If he was unwell, he should have informed us. The public are not doctors to know this. An artiste’s family and well-wishers will always stand with him, but we should also have been informed in advance,” Uniyal said.The controversy erupted when Uniyal walked onto the stage and publicly expressed his displeasure while Daler Mehndi was performing at the Siddhpeeth Maa Kunjapuri Tourism and Development Fair in Narendra Nagar, in Uttarakhand’s Tehri Garhwal district. Organised by the state government, the event became the centre of a heated debate after a video of the confrontation went viral on social media.Several celebrities subsequently came out in support of Mehndi. His brother, singer Mika Singh, defended him, insisting that the Punjabi singer does not consume alcohol and criticising the minister’s treatment of him. Actors Rajpal Yadav and Anupam Kher, comedian Kapil Sharma and singer Badshah also expressed their support for Mehndi.Mika has since demanded an apology from Uniyal, accusing the minister of insulting his brother. The minister, meanwhile, has maintained that his intervention was prompted by concerns about the performance and the lack of prior communication from the singer’s team.
