By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s personal intervention appears to have helped defuse the controversy surrounding Punjabi singer Daler Mehndi’s performance at Narendra Nagar with his brother Mika Singh saying he wants to put the matter behind him.
In a social media post, Mika thanked Dhami for personally speaking to him and Daler Mehndi and for assuring them that the veteran singer would be invited to Uttarakhand again and given the love and respect he deserved.
“Daler Bhai also called me personally and requested that I put this matter to rest. I respect his wishes and want to move forward positively,” Mika said.
Mika thanked the Chief Minister for resolving the controversy on a positive note. Dhami had intervened amid the escalating row as he spoke to to Mika on Thursday and Daler Mehndi on Friday. Dhami stressed the importance of resolving differences through dialogue and cordiality, reiterating that Uttarakhand had a tradition of welcoming and honouring artists
“Artists deserve respect, and Uttarakhand deserves love. Let’s move forward with dignity, mutual respect, and positivity,” Mika added.
The development follows a controversy that erupted on October 18 during a cultural programme at the Siddhpeeth Maa Kunjapuri Tourism and Development Fair in Narendra Nagar, Tehri district. Uniyal, who was present at the event, went on stage during Mehndi’s performance and questioned his ability to sing, alleging that he appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. The minister also expressed dissatisfaction with the performance, which led to a video of the exchange going viral on social media.
Mika strongly objected to the minister’s remarks, maintaining that his elder brother did not consume alcohol and had been unwell. He demanded that Uniyal clarify his remarks and apologise to the singer publicly.
The controversy drew reactions from at least two dozen personalities from the film and the entertainment industry, including Badshah, Kapil Sharma, Anupam Kher and Rajpal Yadav, who expressed support for Daler Mehndi and emphasised the need to treat artists with dignity.
The Chief Minister also said Uniyal had clarified that he had not intended to insult the singer and that he had been unaware of Mehndi’s health condition. Dhami appealed to all concerned to put the episode behind them and move forward positively.
Mika’s latest message signals a willingness to close the chapter, with the singer acknowledging the Chief Minister’s efforts and expressing confidence in the spirit of mutual respect.
However, his post did not explicitly state whether his demand for a public apology from Uniyal had been withdrawn.