Daler Mehndi asked to stop singing at Uttarakhand fair; minister confronts singer on stage
A performance by Punjabi singer Daler Mehndi at the Kunjapuri Fair in Uttarakhand's Tehri district triggered controversy on Sunday after state cabinet minister Subodh Uniyal walked onto the stage and asked him to stop singing.
The incident took place during a cultural programme organised as part of the Navratri celebrations.
Uniyal, who represents Narendranagar in the Uttarakhand Assembly, objected to the performance, saying the religious nature of the event demanded decorum and respect for the occasion.
'You are making a fool of us': Minister to Daler Mehndi
Standing beside the singer, Uniyal said the programme was dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga and alleged that Mehndi was performing after consuming alcohol.
"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.
Uniyal went on to remind the singer that he had been invited to entertain the audience because of his popularity, but insisted that the occasion's religious significance should not be overlooked.
"We called you so that our people could be entertained. You are making a fool of us," he said, adding, "This is wrong. It's wrong. You have a big name, we should respect that. You were called because you have a big name."
A video from the Kunjapuri Mela in Narendranagar, Tehri Garhwal, is drawing attention, showing Cabinet Minister and local MLA Subodh Uniyal objecting on stage during a performance by Punjabi singer Daler Mehndi. In the video, Uniyal can be heard telling him, “Bol toh jaa nahi raha, gaana kya gaoge?”
— Kumaon Jagran (@KumaonJagran) October 19, 2026
Singer requests minister to leave the stage
In the video of the incident circulating on social media, Mehndi appears to interrupt the minister and request him to leave the stage.
"Sir, I request you with folded hands...please leave the stage," the singer is heard saying.
The exchange has since attracted attention online, with the confrontation between the minister and the popular singer becoming the focus of discussion.
Religious significance of Kunjapuri Fair
The Kunjapuri Fair is an important religious and cultural gathering in Uttarakhand. The event coincides with Navratri, a festival dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga, and features religious observances alongside cultural performances.
The minister's objection centred on the religious context of the programme and the conduct he expected from performers at the event.
His allegation that Mehndi had consumed alcohol was made during the on-stage exchange.
The video of the incident has gone viral on social media, drawing attention to the confrontation at the fair.
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