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Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has said he will speak with singers Mika Singh and Daler Mehndi following the controversy surrounding a confrontation between Mehndi and state minister Subodh Uniyal at a public event.

 

Dhami said he would first talk to Mika Singh and then speak with Daler Mehndi, describing himself as a friend of both brothers. The assurance came after Mika appealed to the chief minister to take action against Uniyal.

 

Daler Mehndi was performing in Tehri Garhwal district on October 18 during Navratri celebrations when Uniyal reprimanded him and questioned his conduct over allegations that he was intoxicated. A video of the interaction later went viral.

 

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Dhami said the situation may have been influenced by public pressure at the venue. He added that Uniyal had clarified that he was unaware of Daler Mehndi’s poor health at the time.

 

“I believe that since there was likely pressure from the public at the time and the minister stated that he was unaware of Daler Mehndi’s poor health, the minister himself has already clarified,” Dhami said while responding to questions about the controversy.

 

The chief minister said Uttarakhand respects writers, artists and scholars, and described the singers as accomplished artists. He said the minister had already explained that he did not intend to cause offence and that the matter should now be brought to a close.

 

“Given the circumstances that arose due to public pressure at the time, and since the minister has already issued a statement clarifying that he had no such intent, I believe it is time to bring this matter to a close,” Dhami said.

 

Mika Singh had called for an apology from Uniyal in an Instagram post on Wednesday. He thanked singers, fans, friends, family and well-wishers for their support before explaining his objection to the incident.

 

Mika said Daler Mehndi does not drink alcohol and that allegations suggesting otherwise were incorrect. He questioned how a renowned artist could be publicly scolded and humiliated on stage, particularly when even reprimanding a student in a school or college can attract serious concern.

 

He said the person responsible should accept that the allegation about Daler Mehndi consuming alcohol was wrong and apologise for the manner in which the singer was treated.