By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Punjabi singer Daler Mehndi has received support from several prominent entertainment industry personalities, including rapper Badshah, comedian Kapil Sharma, actor Anupam Kher and singer Mika Singh, following the controversy over a rebuke of Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal during a cultural programme in Tehri district.
The controversy erupted on Sunday night at the Siddhpeeth Maa Kunjapuri Tourism and Development Fair in Narendra Nagar, when Uniyal walked onto the stage and questioned Mehndi’s ability to perform. The minister alleged that the singer was unable to sing properly and was lip-syncing. He also suspected that Mehndi might be under the influence of alcohol, although the allegation has not been medically established.
Mika Singh, Mehndi’s younger brother, strongly rejected the allegation, saying the veteran singer did not consume alcohol and had recently undergone a serious medical procedure.
In a video shared on social media, Mika questioned whether anyone had ever seen his brother drinking during his decades-long career. He attributed Mehndi’s condition during the performance to his health problems and urged people not to spread unverified allegations.
Comedian Kapil Sharma also came out in support of Mehndi, sharing Mika’s video on Instagram. He said the singer had undergone serious surgery, which many people were unaware of, and urged people to be more compassionate.
Rapper Badshah criticised the manner in which the singer was confronted publicly, saying disappointment over a performance could be expressed without humiliating an artist.
“You can express disappointment, but publicly humiliating an artist who has given so much to our music industry is extremely disheartening,” Badshah said in a social media post.
Actor Anupam Kher also defended Mehndi, saying he had known the singer for 25-30 years and regarded him as one of the finest human beings he had met. Kher said he knew of Mehndi’s prolonged health problems through a doctor they both knew.
Meanhile, Uniyal said Mehndi had been invited because of his stature as a renowned artist but should have informed the organisers beforehand if he was unwell.
Uniyal said he had faced pressure from local representatives and members of the organising committee to question the performance after it became apparent that the singer was not singing live. He added that the organisers had paid the full fee of Rs 35 lakh and made hotel arrangements in advance.
Earlier, Congress leader Amarjeet Singh criticised Uniyal’s conduct as contrary to Uttarakhand’s tradition of hospitality and demanded a public apology. He said the minister could have raised any concerns about the performance through the organisers rather than confronting the singer publicly.
A video of the incident has gone viral on social media, drawing mixed reactions and turning the episode at the Kunjapuri fair into a wider debate about an artist’s dignity, professional obligations and the manner in which complaints should be handled at public events.
Mehndi has also received support from several other prominent personalities from the music and film industries. Those expressing support or solidarity with the singer include actor Rajpal Yadav and Vir Das, singers Mika Singh, Shaan, Harshdeep Kaur and Alisha Chinai, Euphoria frontman Palash Sen, and Meet Bros’ Manmeet Singh. While some criticised the minister for publicly confronting the veteran singer, others highlighted Mehndi’s contribution to Indian music and urged people to show greater understanding of his health condition.