Dehradun: Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has sought to defuse the controversy involving Punjabi singer Daler Mehndi, saying the state respects all artists and that he will personally speak to Mehndi and singer Mika Singh.
Dhami described both singers as good friends and said he would speak to them about the matter.
The controversy erupted during the Siddhpeeth Maa Kunjapuri Mela on Sunday night, when Uttarakhand minister Subodh Uniyal publicly questioned Mehndi on stage, asking whether he was under the influence of alcohol. The minister also remarked that if the singer could not speak properly on stage, how would he sing.
A video of the incident went viral on social media, prompting several Bollywood personalities and Mika Singh to demand an apology from the minister.
Responding to the criticism, Uniyal said he had questioned the singer because of pressure from people present at the event. He claimed Mehndi was unable to speak or walk properly at the time, which prompted him to ask the question.
