Uttarakhand Minister Denies Apology to Singer Daler Mehndi

Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal has denied reports that he apologized to singer Daler Mehndi following a public confrontation on October 18 at the Siddhpeeth Maa Kunjapuri Tourism and Development Fair. The dispute began when Uniyal interrupted Mehndi's performance, accusing the artist of being intoxicated and lip-syncing. Uniyal also claimed that singer Maninder Buttar had been beaten during a 2019 visit to the region, a claim Buttar refuted by stating the minister had actually honored him with a traditional Pahadi cap.

Initial reports indicated that Uniyal apologized via telephone and that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami issued a separate apology on the minister's behalf. Mika Singh, defending Mehndi, stated the singer does not consume alcohol and had been recovering from illness for two years. Mika Singh's team initially welcomed the perceived apology, emphasizing the need to respect the dignity of senior artists.

However, Uniyal later contradicted these accounts in an interview with Satyavani Live, stating there is no question of him apologizing because he committed no crime. He criticized Mehndi for accepting a payment of Rs 26 lakh while allegedly disappointing the audience, arguing that the singer should have declined the show if he was unwell.