Veteran Punjabi singer Daler Mehndi has landed in controversy after his performance at the Siddhpeeth Maa Kunjapuri Tourism and Development Fair in Uttarakhand’s Tehri district on October 18. The event, organised during Navratri celebrations, took an unexpected turn when Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister and Narendra Nagar MLA Subodh Uniyal walked onto the stage and questioned the singer’s performance. The minister alleged that Mehndi was under the influence of alcohol and criticised him for struggling to speak and sing properly. A video of the confrontation subsequently went viral on social media, sparking widespread debate about the incident. However, the allegations of intoxication have not been independently established.
The controversy intensified after singer Mika Singh came forward to defend his elder brother. Mika strongly denied the allegations that Daler Mehndi had been drinking alcohol. He challenged critics and said he would quit singing if even one person could prove that they had seen his brother consuming alcohol. Mika also suggested that Daler’s performance may have been affected by his health, claiming that the singer had recently undergone a major surgery and might have been unwell during the event.
Mika also criticised the way the veteran singer was confronted publicly, arguing that an artist’s health should be taken into consideration before drawing conclusions about their performance. According to Reports, the event organisers said Daler’s team had attributed his poor vocal delivery to ill health. Reports also noted that he had been brought in as a last-minute replacement after another artist’s appearance could not be finalised.
Several members of the entertainment industry have also expressed support for Daler Mehndi. Singers Badshah, Palash Sen, Harshdeep Kaur and Shaan, along with comedian Kapil Sharma, spoke out against the public humiliation of the veteran performer and urged people to show empathy. Kapil Sharma also referred to Daler’s recent serious surgery, while Badshah emphasised that disappointment with a performance should not justify humiliating an artist in public. The incident has sparked a wider discussion about artists’ health, professional commitments and the importance of treating performers with dignity.