Uttarakhand’s health minister Subodh Uniyal Pulls Up Daler Mehndi On Stage at Kunjapuri Mela, Alleges Lip-Sync and Disoriented Performance
SUNIL NEGI
Narendranagar, Tehri Garhwal – 19 Oct 2026:
A cultural night at the historic Siddhpeeth Maa Kunjapuri Tourism & Development Fair in Narendranagar, Tehri Garhwal – falling in the constituency of Uttarakhand Health Minister Subodh Uniyal – turned chaotic on Sunday night when Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal walked onto the stage and confronted Bollywood-Punjabi singer Daler Mehndi during his live performance.
The fair, organised during Navratri festivities, had invited Mehndi and his musical crew as star attraction. Thousands of fans had gathered.
According to eyewitnesses and a viral video now circulating, the audience turned restive alleging that the singer was not singing live but was performing on a pre-recorded track, lip-syncing to his own songs. Locals also alleged the singer appeared disoriented and unable to speak or stand properly, with claims of inebriation – *allegations that remain unverified and have not been independently confirmed*.
Minister Subodh Uniyal, who is also local MLA from Narendranagar, rose from his chair to pacify the crowd and then took the mic.
In stern Hindi, he was heard saying:
“Bola toh jaa nahi raha, gaana kya gaoge? Itna paisa deke aapko humne bulaya hai. Iss liye bulaya taaki humare logon ko entertain ho. Aap bewakoof bana rahe hai humein. Galat baat hai. You are a big name. Aapko iss liye bulaya gaya tha kyunki aap bada naam hai.”
“There is a Durga Mata programme for Navratri, and you are singing at the event after drinking alcohol, which is not appropriate,” Uniyal added, stressing the religious sanctity of the occasion.
In the video, Daler Mehndi is seen folding his hands and requesting the minister to step down: “Sir, I request you with folded hands… please leave the stage.”
Speaking to ANI on Sunday evening, Uniyal clarified his stand:
“He is a big artist. If a big artist doesn’t do justice to their art… He seemed disoriented on stage and didn’t seem to be able to even keep standing. Besides this, he was only lip-syncing to his songs. He had been offered Rs 35 lakh to come and perform, but he was not even singing. So, I expressed my resentment.”
Uttarakhand folk legend and Padma Shri awardee Pritam Bhartwan also reacted, saying he cannot confirm whether Mehndi was under influence, but the minister was right that a star of his stature should sing live, not rely on a track.
The audience had earlier shouted that they had come to hear Daler Mehndi live, not his sound team. The situation became tense before the minister intervened.
Daler Mehndi has not yet issued an official reaction to the incident.
The Kunjapuri Mela is one of Tehri’s biggest religious-cultural fairs held in the lap of Himalayas, dedicated to Maa Kunjapuri.
Video went Viral on social media with the Minister on stage confronting singer
