The apology—conveyed directly over a telephonic call to Mehndi—addressed the abrupt mid-performance stoppage and subsequent accusations of intoxication and lip-syncing leveled against the singer during the Siddhpeeth Maa Kunjapuri Tourism and Development Fair in New Tehri.
Following the conversation, the management of singer Mika Singh released a formal statement welcoming the minister’s gesture and expressing hope that the matter can now be laid to rest with mutual respect intact.
The Apology Call & Mika Singh's Official Statement
After facing mounting pressure from nationwide music unions and the cine fraternity, Minister Subodh Uniyal dialed Daler Mehndi to express regret over the incident.
Welcoming the move, Mika Singh’s team issued an official press note appreciating the accountability:
“We appreciate that Subodh Uniyal ji has apologised to Daler Mehndi paaji over a telephonic conversation regarding the unfortunate incident. Respecting artists and their dignity is extremely important. Daler paaji is a senior artist who has contributed immensely to the music industry, and every artist deserves to be treated with respect.
We hope this matter can now be put behind us and everyone can move forward with mutual respect and understanding.”
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami’s Early Outreach
Before the minister’s direct phone call, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stepped in to defuse the growing public relations fallout.
Mika Singh revealed that CM Dhami had personally reached out to him over the phone:
The Chief Minister's Gesture: According to Mika, CM Dhami offered an apology on behalf of the state administration for the way the incident played out on stage.
Mika's Response to the CM: Mika acknowledged Dhami’s humility and stated that while the Chief Minister personally bore no fault, his intervention was crucial in nudging the minister to address the issue directly with Mehndi:
“Whenever I visit Dehradun, he meets me with great warmth and is extremely down-to-earth. 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. I believe misunderstandings can happen, but they can also be resolved gracefully.”
Trade Take:
The resolution of the Kunjapuri stage controversy highlights the growing leverage of unified artist guilds and digital solidarity. By standing firm on the principle of artist dignity rather than escalating into legal litigation or political confrontation, Daler Mehndi and Mika Singh secured a clean, dignified closure while reinforcing the precedent that public figures cannot treat performing artists dismissively at civic cultural events.
