Calling his alleged treatment on stage humiliating and condemnable, she said artists should be treated with dignity and any concerns should be raised in private.The controversy began after Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister and local MLA Subodh Uniyal publicly questioned Mehndi's condition during the performance and directed him to stop. As members of the entertainment industry rallied behind the singer, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke to Mehndi's brother, Mika Singh, and called for the matter to be resolved amicably through dialogue.Speaking to IANS, Arun said the film industry, audiences and the music fraternity were deeply saddened and angry over the way Mehndi was allegedly treated.“Our film industry, the audience and the music fraternity are deeply saddened and angry.

Daler Sahib is not just a dear friend to us but like a brother. He is a legend.

He has played a huge role in popularising Sufi and Punjabi music. We do not know exactly what happened there, but the allegations made against him and the way he was mistreated and spoken to were not right,” she said.

Arun said that if the organisers or sponsors had concerns about the singer's condition, they could have spoken privately to his secretary instead of addressing the matter publicly on stage.“If there were any concerns, whether from the organisers or the sponsors, his secretary could have been called and spoken to privately. They could have said that perhaps he was not in a condition to perform.

It is the responsibility of our leaders to ensure that such situations are handled properly, and that everyone is taken care of,” she said. Describing artists as sensitive by nature, Arun said the episode had left her shocked and deeply saddened.

She also expressed concern about Mehndi's well-being and said the situation could have had serious consequences.“What happened to him on stage was humiliating and highly condemnable. There is no justification for such behaviour.

Whatever concerns or disagreements the leaders may have had could have been addressed privately, behind the scenes. Daler Bhaiji has millions of fans and followers.

What would have happened if he had suffered a heart attack? He is such a great artist,” she said.Arun acknowledged that an artist should not perform when unwell, but said the situation should have been handled more respectfully. “We agree that he should not have gone on stage if he was unwell.

But the way the situation was handled was not right,” she said.‘Your insult is our insult’Reflecting on what she had learnt from Mehndi, Arun said he had taught her the importance of respect and the value of an artist's relationship with the audience.“I have learnt a lot from him. He has taught me that respect is the most important thing and that the greatest wealth an artist can have is the love of the audience and listeners.

If such a situation arises, one should not compromise on one's dignity and should choose not to perform. But the way he was treated has left us extremely angry,” she said.In a message to Mehndi, she added, “I would like to say to Daler ji, don't take it to your heart.

Your heart is very big. Your insult is our insult.

We will stand with you.”What happened at the Kunjapuri Fair?Mehndi, 59, was performing on October 18 at the Siddhpeeth Maa Kunjapuri Tourism and Development Fair in Narendra Nagar, in Uttarakhand's Tehri district, when his performance was interrupted. A video that went viral on social media showed Uniyal questioning the singer's condition and asking whether he was drunk because he appeared unable to speak properly.

Mehndi was heard apologising.Uniyal reportedly directed him to stop performing, alleging that he had taken the stage after consuming alcohol at an event dedicated to Goddess Durga. The incident prompted criticism from several members of the entertainment industry, who supported Mehndi and called for artists to be treated with dignity and respect.Mika Singh demanded an apology from Uniyal and urged Dhami to intervene.

In a post on Thursday, Mika said Mehndi had agreed to perform at the event after singer Sunanda Sharma fell ill. He said it was painful to see his brother being accused of being drunk while performing and added that artists deserved dignity and respect.Responding to the criticism, Uniyal said on Wednesday that Mehndi should have informed the organisers in advance that he was unwell and should not have come to perform.Speaking to PTI, the minister said he had expected Mehndi to perform at the fair but felt that the singer was lip-syncing instead of singing live.

Uniyal said that, as a local representative associated with the organising committee, he was under pressure from people who wanted the matter to be questioned.Uniyal also claimed that Mehndi appeared unable to speak or walk properly, leading him to suspect that the singer was under the influence of a substance. He acknowledged that no medical examination had been conducted and said he later learnt that Mehndi had been unable to speak because he was unwell.Dhami spoke to Mika on Thursday and said any misunderstanding could be resolved through dialogue. “Today, I had a telephonic conversation with the renowned singer Mika Singh.

While discussing matters concerning Daler Mehndi, I emphasised that any misunderstandings should be resolved through mutual dialogue and cordiality,” he wrote on X.The chief minister said Uttarakhand, known as Devbhoomi, upheld the tradition of Atithi Devo Bhava, or treating guests as divine. He added that artists were always welcomed and respected in the state.- Ends