Maninder Buttar denies drunken‑performance claim, asks minister for proof

Maninder Buttar on Monday posted a selfie video demanding proof after Uttarakhand minister Subodh Uniyal claimed he performed drunk at a 2019 state event. Buttar said he played for over an hour, that the minister himself honored him by placing a traditional Pahadi cap on his head, and that he never sang under the influence of alcohol or any intoxicant. He asked Uniyal to upload the full, unedited recording of the show so viewers can see what really happened. The minister’s allegation mirrors a similar claim he made earlier this month against Punjabi singer Daler Mehndi, interrupting Mehndi’s performance at the Siddhpeeth Maa Kunjapuri Tourism and Development Fair in Narendra Nagar and saying the veteran appeared intoxicated. Uniyal also cited Buttar as another example, saying the singer was “beaten black and blue” after a drunken show. Mehndi’s younger brother Mika Singh refuted the charge, stating his brother does not drink, that he was unwell after surgery and had taken the gig to fill in for another artist, and that he would quit singing if evidence of drunkenness emerged. Uniyal later denied apologising to Mehndi, calling any refusal to perform a “crime” and refusing to issue an apology despite a viral video of his outburst. ## Context Accusations of intoxication by a government minister during cultural events are unusual and can spark public disputes, especially when the artists request transparent evidence to protect their reputation.