Dhami Urges End to Daler Mehndi Performance Controversy

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami urged people to consider the controversy over singer Daler Mehndi’s performance closed, saying Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal had clarified that he did not intend to offend the singer. The dispute followed Uniyal’s public reprimand of Mehndi at a cultural event, where the minister questioned the singer’s condition and whether he was performing live. Speaking at a press conference, Dhami said Uniyal had issued a statement clarifying his position. Dhami said he believed that clarification should bring the matter to an end. The Chief Minister’s Office separately said Dhami spoke by phone with singer Mika Singh, Mehndi’s brother, and urged that differences be resolved through cordial dialogue and mutual respect. The confrontation took place during Mehndi’s performance at the Siddhpeeth Maa Kunjapuri Tourism and Development Fair in the Narendra Nagar area of Uttarakhand. Uniyal interrupted the performance and accused Mehndi of being under the influence of alcohol. He questioned whether the singer was singing live and, in a later explanation to reporters, said he believed Mehndi was lip-syncing. The minister also said the performance...