On Wednesday, October 21, Mika Singh shared an old video of Subodh Uniyal amid the ongoing controversy. In the video, Uniyal is seen at a voting booth. The footage had gone viral earlier this year during the municipal elections held in Uttarakhand in June.
Mika Singh Demands Action Against Subodh Uniyal
In the video shared by Mika Singh, Subodh Uniyal allegedly appears to speak rudely to people at a voting booth. When he is asked to leave the booth, Uniyal can reportedly be heard saying, “Pagalon ke bachche, kaun hain ye?” meaning, “Whose children are these mad people?”
Sharing the video, Mika tweeted, “Thank you, Uttarakhand, for standing by Daler Mehndi ji. Artists have always loved Uttarakhand, but if politicians insult artists, why should we come there to perform?” He also tagged Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and demanded strict action against Uniyal. Mika concluded his post by writing, “Artists deserve respect and dignity.”
Reacting to another video of Uniyal, Mika also questioned whether the minister had paid Rs 35 lakh in cash or by cheque. The singer tweeted, “Sir, did you pay Rs 35 lakh in cash or by cheque? If you have payment receipts, please bring them into the public domain so everyone can know the truth. Thank you!”
Subodh Uniyal Responds to the Daler Mehndi Controversy
Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal, who has faced criticism over his remarks against Daler Mehndi, offered his explanation on Wednesday. He said the singer should have informed the organisers beforehand if he was unwell and should not have come to perform if his health did not permit it.
Sir, aapne ₹35 lakh cash mein diye the ya cheque se? Agar aapke paas payment ki receipts hain, toh please public ke saamne share kijiye, taaki sabko sach pata chal sake. Thank you! @SubodhUniyal1
— King Mika Singh (@MikaSingh) October 21, 2026
Speaking to PTI, Uniyal said, “Being such a big artist, he should have informed us about this beforehand. We came to know about it only when he was stopped midway. If he was not feeling well, he should not have come to perform. We were asked to make the full payment of Rs 35 lakh to the artist in advance. Hotels had also been booked in advance. I have nothing personal against Mehndi, nor was there any intention on my part to hurt him, but such a big artist should have refused to perform, knowing his condition.”
The minister reiterated that he had been under pressure in his capacity as an elected representative of the constituency. He maintained that artists should behave in a manner consistent with the respect they expect to receive.
“I stand by the view that if an artist wants to maintain his dignity, he should conduct himself accordingly in his work as well. I did not use any abusive language while speaking to Daler Mehndi. Bollywood artists are invited for just two days. Singer Sunanda Sharma was also invited, but she fell ill. Therefore, she returned the entire amount paid to her. When Sunanda could not come, our team contacted Daler Mehndi. If he was not feeling well, he should have informed us beforehand. The public is not made up of doctors who can understand his problem,” Uniyal said.
He added that an artist's family and well-wishers would naturally stand by the performer, but the organisers should also have been informed about any health-related concerns in advance.
What Happened at the Kunjapuri Fair?
Thank you, Uttarakhand, for standing with Daler Mehndi ji. ❤️🙏 Artists have always loved Uttarakhand, but if artists are disrespected by politicians, why would we come to perform there? I sincerely request Hon’ble CM @pushkardhami to look into the behaviour of Cabinet Minister @SubodhUniyal1 and take appropriate action. Artists deserve respect and dignity.
— King Mika Singh (@MikaSingh) October 21, 2026
Thank you, Uttarakhand, for standing with Daler Mehndi ji. ❤️🙏 Artists have always loved Uttarakhand, but if artists are disrespected by politicians, why would we come to perform there? I sincerely request Hon’ble CM @pushkardhami to look into the behaviour of Cabinet Minister @SubodhUniyal1 and take appropriate action. Artists deserve respect and dignity.
— King Mika Singh (@MikaSingh) October 21, 2026
The controversy erupted on Sunday when Daler Mehndi was performing at the Kunjapuri Tourism and Development Fair in New Tehri, Uttarakhand. During the live show, Uniyal intervened and accused the singer of being intoxicated. The minister alleged that Mehndi was having difficulty speaking and was lip-syncing despite receiving a substantial payment of Rs 35 lakh.
The incident triggered mixed reactions after videos of the confrontation circulated. Several singers and Bollywood personalities came out in support of Daler Mehndi, while Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal also received support from some quarters.
Mika Singh's latest posts have now brought renewed attention to the dispute, shifting part of the debate towards the conduct of public representatives and the treatment of performers at public events. With both sides defending their positions, the controversy continues to draw reactions over the allegations, the advance payment and the circumstances surrounding the interrupted performance.
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