Mika Singh demands public apology from Uttarakhand minister over Daler Mehndi stage dispute

Punjabi singer Mika Singh has demanded a public apology from Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal after the minister accused veteran singer Daler Mehndi of being intoxicated on stage. The incident took place on Sunday night during a cultural evening at the Siddhpeeth Maa Kunjapuri Tourism and Development Fair in New Tehri, Uttarakhand, where Daler was performing as part of Navratri celebrations. During the performance, Minister Uniyal interrupted the singer on stage, reprimanded his conduct, and claimed he was too disoriented to stand or speak properly. The minister later explained to news agency ANI that Daler was only lip-syncing instead of actually singing, despite being paid ₹35 lakh for the event. Following the public row, a video clip of the confrontation circulated widely on social media. Daler's brother Mika defended him strongly, stating that the singer never touches alcohol and challenging anyone to prove otherwise. Mika also questioned the minister's demand for payment receipts and asked Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to look into the matter. Several film and music personalities, including Anupam Kher, Rajpal Yadav, Badshah, and Kapil Sharma, expressed support for Daler on social media.

Context

Cultural festivals and state-backed tourism events across India regularly feature prominent artists performing before large public crowds. When public disputes arise involving government officials and visiting performers, they often draw intense media scrutiny and spark widespread debates about artist dignity and public accountability.