Minister reveals Daler Mehndi received 35 lakh rupees for troubled Uttarakhand concert

Uttarakhand cabinet minister Subodh Uniyal disclosed that singer Daler Mehndi received thirty-five lakh rupees to perform at a recent cultural event where the minister publicly criticized his stage conduct. The incident took place on Sunday night during the historic Siddhpeeth Maa Kunjapuri Tourism and Development Fair in New Tehri.

The Incident

During the performance, Subodh Uniyal interrupted the singer mid-show and reprimanded him on stage. The minister stated that the artist looked disoriented, could barely stand, and was only lip-syncing instead of actually singing. Addressing the performer directly, the minister remarked that the audience came to hear him live and deserved to have their expectations met.

Reactions And Allegations

The minister expressed deep resentment over the lack of professionalism, especially given the high payment and the sacred timing of the Navratri festival. Uniyal also pointed out that the performer could not even speak properly during the event. Unconfirmed allegations suggested the singer was under the influence of alcohol, while a video of the public confrontation quickly spread across social media platforms.

Context

Regional cultural festivals and tourism fairs across India regularly hire prominent mainstream artists to draw large crowds and boost local celebrations. Public figures and elected officials often attend these state-backed events as chief guests or organizers, placing them in direct oversight of event quality and public funds utilization.