A performance by Punjabi singer Daler Mehndi at Uttarakhand’s Kunjapuri Fair turned controversial on Sunday after state cabinet minister Subodh Uniyal confronted him on stage. The minister objected to the singer’s performance during a Navratri cultural programme, alleging that he was singing after consuming alcohol.
The incident took place at the annual fair in Tehri district, where people had gathered to watch the popular singer perform. Videos of the exchange have since circulated on social media, showing Uniyal questioning Mehndi’s performance and asking him to respect the religious occasion.
The controversy also raised questions about the quality of the performance, with some attendees reportedly expressing disappointment. However, the singer’s team later attributed his vocal difficulties to ill health, according to the event organisers.
Why Did Subodh Uniyal Confront Daler Mehndi?
At the Kunjapuri Mela in Narendranagar, Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal stopped Daler Mehndi’s live show midway, accusing him on stage of performing after drinking and saying he couldn’t even speak properly. Daler Mehndi hasn’t responded, and the allegation hasn’t been independently confirmed.
But the point stands. Kunjapuri is a Navratri mela at one of Garhwal’s most revered Shakti peeths. Organisers spend lakhs to bring big names, and families travel for hours to watch them.
The least they deserve is a singer who turns up prepared, sober and ready to give his best. The bigger the star, the bigger the responsibility.— Kumaon Jagran (@KumaonJagran) October 19, 2026
Subodh Uniyal, who represents Narendranagar in the Uttarakhand Assembly, was present at the Kunjapuri Fair, which is organised during the Navratri celebrations. The minister objected to Mehndi’s performance, saying the event was dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga and required performers to respect its religious significance. Standing beside the singer on stage, Uniyal addressed him directly.
“There is a Durga Mata programme for Navratri, and you are singing at the event after drinking alcohol, which is not appropriate,” the minister said.
ये उड़ता पंजाब देखकर कर भड़के मंत्री जी। https://t.co/V1Oosex26f
— Shiv Bhatt(Parody) (@shivbhatt) October 19, 2026
Uniyal also questioned the quality of the performance and expressed displeasure over the experience being offered to the audience. He reminded Mehndi that he had been invited because of his popularity and that people had gathered expecting to enjoy his music.
“We called you so that our people could be entertained. You are making a fool of us,” Uniyal said. “This is wrong. It’s wrong. You have a big name, we should respect that. You were called because you have a big name.”
The minister’s remarks were captured in videos shared online, turning the performance into a public controversy.
Daler Mehndi Requests The Minister To Leave The Stage
दिलेर मेहंदी पर फूटा कैबिनेट मंत्री सुबोध उनियाल का गुस्सा
उत्तराखंड में एक कार्यक्रम के दौरान मशहूर पंजाबी सिंगर दिलेर मेहंदी को भजन गाने के लिए बुलाया गया था। जहां मौजूद मंत्री सुबोध उनियाल ने कहा, बोल तो पा नहीं रहे गाना क्या गाओगे!
आखिर क्यों नहीं बोल पा रहे थे दिलेर मेहंदी?
— Bhupi Panwar (@askbhupi) October 19, 2026
In the circulating video, Mehndi appears to interrupt Uniyal while the minister is speaking to him. The singer is seen folding his hands and asking the minister to leave the stage. “Sir, I request you with folded hands…please leave the stage,” Mehndi said.
The exchange unfolded in front of the audience, with the minister continuing to criticise the performance. The confrontation became the main talking point of the evening, overshadowing the musical programme.
The incident also drew attention because of the setting. The Kunjapuri Fair is an important religious and cultural gathering in the region, and the programme was part of the Navratri celebrations.
Audience Disappointed With The Performance
According to accounts of the event, the audience had gathered in large numbers to watch Mehndi perform. However, some attendees reportedly became disappointed within minutes of the show beginning. Reports from the venue suggested that the singer struggled to deliver his vocals clearly during one or two songs. Some spectators reportedly felt that the lead vocals were being played over backing tracks rather than being performed live.
The minister also questioned Mehndi’s ability to sing during the performance, saying, “We have given so much money and called you for the entertainment of people, and you are fooling us. You have a big name, that’s why you were called here. You are unable to even speak, how will you sing?” While the minister alleged that the singer had consumed alcohol, the claim should be treated as an allegation rather than an independently established fact.
Organizers Say Singer Was Unwell
Following the controversy, the event organisers said Mehndi’s team had attributed his vocal difficulties to ill health. They reportedly maintained that the singer chose to go on stage despite feeling unwell. Organisers also revealed that Mehndi had been brought in as a last-minute replacement after the appearance of another scheduled artist could not be finalised.
The explanation offered by the singer’s team provides a different account of the difficulties witnessed during the performance. No independent confirmation of the alleged alcohol consumption was included in the information provided about the incident. Despite the minister’s intervention, the programme ended without the energetic performance many attendees had expected.
Daler Mehndi’s Kunjapuri Fair Performance Sparks Debate
The confrontation between Subodh Uniyal and Daler Mehndi has brought the Kunjapuri Fair performance into the spotlight. What was expected to be a musical highlight of the Navratri celebrations instead became a public disagreement over the singer’s performance and the religious setting.
While the minister criticised Mehndi on stage, organisers pointed to the singer’s reported ill health as the reason for his difficulties. The incident has since prompted discussion on social media, with the circulating videos drawing attention to the exchange.
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