Uttarakhand Minister Rejects Apology Claim, Blames Daler Mehndi for Event Slip-up

Uttarakhand minister Subodh Uniyal said there is no need for him to apologise to singer Daler Mehndi, insisting the veteran should apologise to the audience instead. Uniyal responded to questions about Mika Singh’s team’s claim that he had apologised on phone, asking “have I committed any crime that I should apologise for?” and labeling the singer’s acceptance of a Rs 26 lakh fee while unwell as a “crime”. He added that if Mehndi was ill he should not have taken the stage or accepted the payment. The controversy began when Uniyal interrupted Mehndi’s performance at the Siddhpeeth Maa Kunjapuri Tourism and Development Fair in New Tehri, asking if the singer was drunk because his speech was slurred. Mika Singh later defended his brother, stating Mehndi never drinks and demanding an apology for the minister’s disrespect. Several Bollywood personalities, including Anupam Kher, Rajpal Yadav and Vir Das, voiced support for Mehndi, while singer Sona Mohapatra questioned audience accountability for the high fees paid. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the state respects all artistes, would speak to both Mehndi and Singh, and noted the minister may have been under public pressure and was unaware of Mehndi’s health issues. ## Context The dispute highlights how Indian politicians sometimes intervene in cultural events, and how payment expectations can clash with performers’ health concerns, leading to public debates about respect for artists and audience rights.