Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday said he had spoken to singer Daler Mehndi and discussed the controversy surrounding allegations by BJP MLA Subodh Uniyal that the singer was drunk during his Navratri performance in Tehri a few days ago. In a post on X, the CM said he had enquired about Mehndi's well-being and highlighted Uttarakhand's tradition of treating guests as God.The post came hours after Mika Singh, Mehndi's younger brother, urged Dhami to get Uniyal to issue a video apology for "disrespecting" the Punjabi singer and making "false" accusations against him.
Dhami, however, did not address the apology request or name Uniyal in his post."Had a phone conversation with the renowned singer Shri @dalermehndi ji to inquire about his well-being. During this, there was also a discussion regarding the recent events that took place," he wrote.Dhami added that Uttarakhand would continue to respect and welcome art and artists. "Devbhoomi Uttarakhand is the carrier of the rich tradition of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ [Guest is God].
Our folk culture, warm hospitality, and the spirit of harmony are the unique identity of Devbhoomi. Art, culture, and artists have always been welcomed and honored here (sic)," he said.
The CM concluded his note by saying that the government wanted to put the controversy behind it through dialogue. "Our effort is to leave this incident behind and move forward with mutual dialogue, harmony, and a spirit of positivity (sic)," he wrote.A video that went viral earlier this week showed Uniyal interrupting Mehndi's concert midway and accusing him of performing under the influence of alcohol. "You can't even speak. How will you perform?" he asked Mehndi, adding that the organisers had paid the singer Rs 35 lakh and that he was disrespecting the spirit of Navratri and the audience by performing in that condition.
While Mehndi has not spoken publicly about the matter yet, Mika has released multiple videos on social media, urging the Uttarakhand government to get Uniyal to apologise to his brother on camera. He said that disrespecting Mehndi amounted to disrespecting the entire artist community and that an example needed to be set.Good morning!
I have immense respect for the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, @pushkardhami ji. He personally called me regarding the matter involving Daler Bhai, and I truly appreciate his gesture.
I know Dhami Saab very well. He is a humble, down-to-earth person, and I have great respect for him.
My only humble request to him is to please ask Shri @SubodhUniyal1 ji to make a simple video clarifying his statement and apologising to Daler Bhai for saying that he was drunk during the performance. I believe misunderstandings can happen, but they can also be resolved gracefully.
I hope this small gesture will help put the matter to rest and ensure that Daler Bhai’s dignity and reputation are respected. I have faith in Dhami Saab’s understanding and leadership.— King Mika Singh (@MikaSingh) October 23, 2026Following Mika's appeal, several other celebrities, including Anupam Kher, Badshah, Ila Arun, Kapil Sharma, Shaan, Rajpal Yadav, Alisha Chinai and Palaash Sen, among others, extended their support to Mehndi.Mika Singh is also scheduled to address the issue at a press conference later today.- Ends