Punjabi singer Maninder Buttar has broken his silence over the controversy surrounding Daler Mehndi’s performance in Uttarakhand, accusing Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal of making misleading remarks about him and demanding that the complete video of his earlier show be made public.
The dispute follows an incident at the Kunjapuri Fair in Narendra Nagar on October 18, when Uniyal publicly questioned Daler Mehndi’s singing during a stage performance. The minister alleged that the singer was lip-syncing, triggering a backlash from the Punjabi music fraternity and several Bollywood personalities.
During an Instagram Live session, Buttar responded to the minister’s reported claim that he had left an event after being beaten up. Rejecting the allegation, the singer called for the full recording of his performance to be released rather than relying on statements about what had happened.
Buttar recalled performing at the same venue in 2019 and said Uniyal had personally placed a traditional Pahadi cap on his head during that event. According to the singer, he continued with his entire 90-minute performance wearing the cap.
He challenged the minister to share the unedited footage, saying the public should be allowed to watch the performance and draw its own conclusions. Buttar also maintained that his music had never promoted obscene content or weapons, and that he had not intended to offend anyone’s sentiments.
‘My father has been dragged into this unnecessarily’
The singer said he had initially refrained from commenting because an Akhand Path was being held in his village for four to five days. He used the Instagram broadcast to explain his position and express his displeasure over remarks that, he said, had also affected his family.
Buttar particularly objected to his father being brought into the dispute. He said his father stays away from social media and is largely disconnected from online discussions, making the controversy especially upsetting for him.
Questioning the minister’s choice of words, Buttar said a public representative should exercise restraint while speaking about artists and their families. He also voiced concern over the treatment of Daler Mehndi, suggesting that the incident raised questions about how performers are treated at public events.
Daler Mehndi row draws support from entertainment industry
The controversy started when Uniyal confronted Daler Mehndi during the October 18 cultural programme, questioning whether he was singing live. Video clips of the exchange spread rapidly across social media, prompting reactions from fellow artists.
Mika Singh defended his elder brother, disputing allegations about his condition and pointing to Daler’s recovery from major surgery. Actors and singers, including Anupam Kher, Shilpa Shetty, Kapil Sharma, Badshah, Shaan and Rajpal Yadav, also voiced criticism of the public exchange.
Uniyal later said organisers should have informed officials if the singer was unwell. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami subsequently contacted Daler Mehndi and Mika Singh, assuring them that artists were respected in the state.
The issue moved towards a resolution on October 26, when Uniyal reportedly called Daler Mehndi to express regret. A statement from Mika Singh’s team and family indicated that they were willing to put the episode behind them following the chief minister’s intervention.
Buttar’s demand for the full recording of his own earlier performance has now added another dimension to the controversy, keeping the focus on the minister’s remarks and the events surrounding the singer’s claims.
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