Uttarakhand cabinet minister Subodh Uniyal has denied reports that he apologised to singer Daler Mehndi following their public confrontation at the Kunjapuri Mela in New Tehri.
Speaking to Satya Vani, Uniyal dismissed the claims and defended his actions during the event, where he questioned the singer after he was unable to perform as expected.
“Mera maafi maangne ka prashn hi nahi hai" (There is no question of me apologising). Tell me, have I committed any crime that I should apologise?", as quoted by the Hindustan Times.
Uniyal argued that Mehndi should have informed the organisers and the audience about his health condition if he was unwell. He also questioned the singer's decision to attend the event and accept payment without performing on stage.
“If he was unwell, he should not have come. Even if he did come, he should have informed the audience that he was unwell. I ask, who is the one at fault? Apradh kiya hai Rs. 26 lakh le kar ke janta ki jo umeedein thi, unpe paani pherne ka inhone" (The wrongdoing was taking Rs. 26 lakh and dashing the expectations of the public)", the Hindustan Times has quoted.
According to the Hindustan Times, the minister claimed that Mehndi had received ₹26 lakh for the appearance. However, Uniyal had earlier told ANI that the singer charged ₹35 lakh for the performance.
The denial follows reports suggesting that Uniyal had apologised after the confrontation. A statement attributed to Mika Singh's team had also circulated, indicating that the minister had expressed regret over the incident. Uniyal has rejected those claims in his latest interview.
What happened at the Kunjapuri Mela?
The controversy began on October 18, when Mehndi was performing at the cultural evening of the Siddhpeeth Maa Kunjapuri Tourism and Development Fair in New Tehri. Uniyal interrupted the performance and questioned the singer about his condition and inability to sing, as reported by the Hindustan Times.
The incident drew criticism from several celebrities, including Rajpal Yadav, Shaan, Kapil Sharma and Anupam Kher, who expressed support for Mehndi and said he had not been keeping well.
Meanwhile, Mika Singh met Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and said the chief minister had apologised on Uniyal's behalf.
At a press conference, Mika said, “I spoke with my elder brother, dear friend, and someone I hold in high regard, the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami. The way he communicated with Daler paaji and me was very polite and humble. He offered an apology on behalf of the Minister. Though I told him it wasn't necessary since he made no mistake, he assured me that Daler Paaji and I will be treated with utmost respect the next time we visit Uttarakhand”, the Hindustan Times has quoted.
Despite the reported apology from the chief minister, Uniyal maintains that he has no reason to apologise to Mehndi, keeping the controversy surrounding the event in the spotlight, as reported by the Hindustan Times.
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