Punjabi singer Daler Mehndi found himself at the centre of a controversy after Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal interrupted his performance at a Navratri event in Tehri district and asked him to stop singing, alleging that he was performing under the influence of alcohol.
The incident took place on Sunday, October 18, during the Kunjapuri Fair in Uttarakhand. A video of the confrontation has since circulated on social media, drawing attention to the exchange between the singer and the minister.
According to reports, Mehndi was performing at a cultural programme organised as part of the religious celebrations when Uniyal, who is also the MLA from Narendra Nagar, walked onto the stage and objected to the performance.
Why did Subodh Uniyal confront Daler Mehndi?
In the video circulating online, Uniyal can be heard questioning Mehndi's conduct at an event dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga during Navratri.
The minister alleged that the singer had consumed alcohol and said performing in such a condition was inappropriate for a religious gathering.
"There is a Durga Mata programme for Navratri, and you are singing at the event after drinking alcohol, which is not appropriate," Uniyal said during the confrontation.
The minister also expressed displeasure over the performance, saying that Mehndi had been invited because of his popularity and was expected to entertain the audience.
"We called you so that our people could be entertained. You are making a fool of us. This is wrong. It's wrong. You have a big name; we should respect that," Uniyal said.
The minister further questioned whether the singer was in a condition to perform, reiterating that the religious nature of the occasion required appropriate conduct.
Daler Mehndi responds to the minister
During the exchange, Mehndi appeared to request the minister to leave the stage. In the viral video, the singer can be heard saying, "Sir, I request you with folded hands... please leave the stage."
The interruption brought the performance into the spotlight, with the video prompting discussion on social media about the confrontation and the expectations surrounding performances at religious events.
The allegation that Mehndi had consumed alcohol was made by the minister during the on-stage exchange. The available reports do not independently establish the allegation.
What is the Kunjapuri Fair?
The Kunjapuri Fair is a religious and cultural gathering held in Uttarakhand's Tehri district in connection with the worship of Goddess Durga. The event brings together religious observances and cultural programmes, including performances by invited artists.
The confrontation has drawn attention to the expectations surrounding performers at religious celebrations and the circumstances under which the singer's performance was interrupted.
Neither a detailed response from Mehndi nor an official statement from the event organisers was available in the reports cited at the time of publication.
