Daler Mehndi row reopens: Minister Subodh Uniyal denies apologising, asks 'what crime did I commit?'

The Daler Mehndi controversy is not over after all. Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal has denied that he apologised to the singer, days after reports and Mika Singh's team said he had called Mehndi to say sorry.

What Uniyal said

Speaking to Satya Vani, Uniyal said there was no question of an apology, according to Filmibeat. He asked whether he had committed any crime that required one.

• He said that if Mehndi was unwell, he should not have performed, or should have told the organisers and the audience beforehand.
• He said the audience came with expectations that were not met.
• He claimed the singer was paid ₹26 lakh for the show. Earlier reports had quoted a figure of ₹35 lakh.

How we got here

1. The show. Uniyal walked on stage and stopped Mehndi's performance at the Kunjapuri Mela in Tehri Garhwal, questioning whether he was fit to sing.
2. The backlash. Mika Singh, Anupam Kher, Kapil Sharma, Badshah and Rajpal Yadav backed Mehndi.
3. The CM steps in. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke to Mika Singh on 22 October and called for the matter to be closed.
4. The reported apology. On 26 October, reports said Uniyal had phoned Mehndi, and Mika's team welcomed it.
5. The denial. On 27 October, Uniyal said he had not apologised.

Why it matters

Both sides now give different accounts of what happened after the mela. The row has turned into a wider debate about how officials treat performers at government-backed events, and how artists should handle being unwell before a show.

Read our earlier report: https://mediamarvels.in/news/daler-mehndi-controversy-ends-subodh-uniyal-apology-mika-singh.