No regrets over on-stage rebuke of Daler Mehndi, says U’khand minister amid celebrity backlash

Dehradun: Uttarakhand forest minister Subodh Uniyal said he did not regret publicly rebuking singer Daler Mehndi during a concert, despite criticism from several entertainment industry figures who defended the singer and said he was a teetotaller and had been unable to perform because of ill health. Standing by his remarks amid the controversy, Uniyal questioned why Mehndi had agreed to perform if he was unwell and alleged that the singer had resorted to lip-syncing despite receiving his full payment in advance.

Uniyal told TOI on Wednesday that Mehndi’s brother, singer Mika Singh, had contacted him a day earlier and requested him to issue an official statement clarifying that Mehndi was under the influence of medication, not alcohol. “I told Mika Singh I will think about it.

Because if he doesn’t drink, then what was it which made him unable to stand and speak coherently? There is no such medicine either—if he was unwell, he should have refused to perform,” Uniyal said.

Mehndi’s representatives did not respond to TOI’s request for comment. Recounting the episode, Uniyal said he had attended the concert from the beginning and that problems became apparent around 40 minutes into the performance.

He claimed he had raised concerns about lip-syncing with the anchor nearly 15 minutes before confronting Mehndi on stage. “They tried to manage the show despite our reservations.

Thereafter, Daler was trying to speak with me from the stage and when he called me up, I went up and told him that you are unable to even speak, how can you sing?” he said, adding that his “intention was not to hurt anyone.”Uniyal also questioned the decision to proceed with the performance despite what he described as the singer’s inability to deliver. “They had taken full payment in advance along with all other expenses.

When it came to concert delivery, it was lip-syncing. Is that justified?” he said.

He maintained that his objection concerned the quality of the performance, and that he had not intended to insult the singer. The minister’s public rebuke drew criticism from several entertainment industry figures, including Badshah, Kapil Sharma and Palash Sen, who came out in Mehndi’s support and said “legends deserve dignity.” By Wednesday afternoon, actor Rajpal Yadav had also joined the debate, posting a video on social media in which he urged the minister to respect artistes.

“...the throne may come and go, but art will always hold a higher place, so you should respect it. God bless you,” Yadav said.

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Key quotes

• “I told Mika Singh I will think about it. Because if he doesn’t drink, then what was it which made him unable to stand and speak coherently? There is no such medicine either—if he was unwell, he should have refused to perform,”

• “They tried to manage the show despite our reservations. Thereafter, Daler was trying to speak with me from the stage and when he called me up, I went up and told him that you are unable to even speak, how can you sing?”

• “intention was not to hurt anyone.”

• “They had taken full payment in advance along with all other expenses. When it came to concert delivery, it was lip-syncing. Is that justified?”

• “legends deserve dignity.”

• “...the throne may come and go, but art will always hold a higher place, so you should respect it. God bless you,”