"You can’t even speak, how will you sing?”
Daler Mehndi has become embroiled in controversy after Uttarakhand minister Subodh Uniyal accused the singer of being drunk during his performance.
The Punjabi artist was performing at the Kunjapuri Mela, which was organised as part of Navratri celebrations.
Viral footage showed Uniyal getting onto the stage and accusing Mehndi of being drunk.
The minister took the microphone and said in Hindi:
“There is a Durga Mata programme for Navratri, and you are singing at the event after drinking alcohol, which is not appropriate.
“We called you so that our people could be entertained. You are making a fool of us. This is wrong. It’s wrong. You were called because you have a big name.
“You can’t even speak, how will you sing?”
The clip divided opinion. Some believed Mehndi was intoxicated, with one commenting:
“He looks super drunk, out of sorts!!”
While another thought the singer was drunk, they felt the situation could have been handled better:
“Not right to shame him publicly; could have sent a message to the singer to take a break and said this backstage in private.”
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
Although Uniyal’s comments were accusations, they prompted a reaction from Daler Mehndi’s brother Mika Singh, who hit out at the claims:
“Yesterday, I saw the news being spread about my elder brother, saying ‘Daler Mehndi was singing after drinking alcohol’.
“First of all, he has been a superstar for the last 30 years. Have you ever seen a glass of alcohol in his hand? Have you even seen alcohol consumption during any of his birthday parties?
“I am talking only about him right now. I know it beforehand that you will talk rubbish about me in the comments section.
“But have you ever seen him drinking alcohol in his entire life? No. Then, how can you make such claims that he is not being able to stand because of alcohol consumption?”
Singh suggested his brother’s apparent difficulty to perform could be health-related rather than alcohol consumption:
“Sometimes, artists give a nod to shows even with 104 fever, it doesn’t matter. Same goes for me. No matter how sick I am feeling, if I know that I have a show in a day or two and I’ve said yes, I have to be there.
“Daler paaji must have done the same thing. If he was not able to stand or sing, it was because he wasn’t feeling well. He underwent a serious operation recently.
“Daler paji has asked me not to release any statement, but being a brother and fan, its my right to do this.
“At the event, there was a great politician, who snapped at him saying he wasn’t able to sing. Maybe sir, you are right, but at least don’t say that he was drinking alcohol and singing.
“I want to challenge the media and his colleagues in the industry.
“Even if one person says that we have seen Daler Mehndi drinking alcohol, then I will quit singing.”
While he acknowledged that the minister may have been right to question the performance, he argued that claims about alcohol consumption should not be made without evidence.
Daler Mehndi has been a prominent figure in Punjabi music for more than three decades, becoming widely recognised for energetic performances and songs including ‘Bolo Ta Ra Ra’, ‘Tunak Tunak Tun’, ‘Ho Jayegi Balle Balle’ and ‘Dardi Rab Rab Kardi’.
He has also recorded numerous Bollywood tracks, including ‘Na Na Na Na Re’ from Mrityudata and ‘Ishq Na Kariyo Kakke’ from Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya.
Uniyal has since claimed the singer “seemed disoriented on stage” and was “lip-syncing” his songs.
