Uttarakhand Chief Minister Backs Daler Mehndi After Minister Accuses Singer of Drunk Stage Performance

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has extended support to singer Daler Mehndi following accusations by the state's cabinet minister Subodh Uniyal that the singer was intoxicated on stage. Mika Singh and Daler Mehndi met the Chief Minister, who assured them that Daler will be invited back to Uttarakhand with respect and love. Mika Singh addressed a press conference on Friday where he revealed that Daler broke down in tears after the incident. Mika stated that when he called his brother the next day, Daler started crying immediately because he was emotional. Mika also shared that he released a video a day after the controversy because he believed his brother was innocent. Later, Mika posted on X to thank the Chief Minister for speaking with them and helping bring the matter to a positive resolution, noting that Daler personally requested him to put the issue to rest. The incident took place when Daler Mehndi was performing at the Kunjapuri Fair in Uttarakhand's Tehri district on October 18. MLA Subodh Uniyal halted the performance and reprimanded the singer on the microphone, accusing him of performing while drunk during a Durga Mata programme for Navratri. Following the viral video of the event, Mika defended his brother by stating that Daler does not drink alcohol, and other Bollywood celebrities including Anupam Kher, Vir Das, and Rajpal Yadav also came to his defence. Daler has previously stated in interviews that he never touched alcohol because of his vocal cords and a promise made to his teacher.

Context

Public figures and artists often face intense scrutiny during live public performances, where viral videos can quickly shape public debates. State leaders occasionally step in to resolve cultural controversies and maintain positive ties with prominent entertainers.