Singer Mika Singh has come out strongly in defence of his brother Daler Mehndi. He has challenged Uttarakhand MLA Subodh Uniyal over two claims — that Daler was drunk on stage and that he was paid Rs 35 lakh for a performance. Mika has demanded that the MLA make the payment records public and apologise for accusing the veteran singer of being drunk during a Navratri event.
What Happened at the Kunjapuri Fair Navratri Event
The row began when MLA Subodh Uniyal confronted Daler Mehndi during a Navratri programme at the Kunjapuri Fair in Uttarakhand's Tehri district on Sunday. The confrontation led to allegations that the singer was drunk on stage during the event.
Mika Singh has rejected this claim outright. He has maintained that his brother does not drink alcohol at all. According to Mika, Daler had performed despite being physically unwell following major surgery.
Mika Singh's Demand: Show the Rs 35 Lakh Payment Records
The dispute is not only about the drinking allegation. Mika Singh has also demanded that the MLA make public the payment records for the Rs 35 lakh allegedly paid to Daler Mehndi for the performance. He wants the MLA to back up the claim with proof and to apologise for the accusation made against his brother.
Mika has gone a step further to show how serious he is about the matter. He has said he will quit singing over the row, putting his own career on the line to defend his brother's name.
Support for Daler Mehndi From Other Leaders
The controversy has drawn reactions from other public figures as well. Delhi AAP MLA Jarnail Singh has spoken in Daler Mehndi's support, saying that "Daler Mehndi paaji doesn't drink." Actor Anupam Kher has also backed the Punjabi singer, and Daler's own remark — "I do not drink alcohol" — has resurfaced amid the row.
- Mika Singh says Daler Mehndi does not drink alcohol
- Mika says Daler performed despite being unwell after major surgery
- Mika has demanded public payment records for the Rs 35 lakh and an apology from the MLA
- Delhi AAP MLA Jarnail Singh and actor Anupam Kher have backed Daler Mehndi
Our Take: The MLA Should Show the Proof
To put it plainly, this row now rests on two simple questions. Did Daler Mehndi perform drunk, and was Rs 35 lakh actually paid to him? Mika Singh has answered the first question with a flat denial and a promise to quit singing if needed. On the second, he has asked the MLA to show the records.
In our view, a public allegation against a well-known artist should come with public proof. If the MLA has payment records, he should release them. If he does not, he owes the singer an apology. Making serious claims about someone being drunk on stage without evidence is not fair to the artist or to the audience who came to watch him perform.
Mika Singh's offer to quit singing shows how deeply his family has taken this. Readers should watch whether the MLA responds with documents or with silence. That response will tell us who is on solid ground in this dispute.