Have you heard the name of Subodh Uniyal? He is the Forest Minister in the Government of Uttarakhand. He also handles the Medical Health and Education departments and is also the Minister of Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs. Till about a week ago, his name was less known to people outside Uttarakhand. Now a large section of people who like Hindi and Punjabi songs have started knowing them. The reason is that he has insulted the famous singer Daler Mehndi on the stage. His supporters applauded him for misbehaving with Daler Mehndi but the entire Bollywood and Punjab has turned against him.
There are millions of fans of Daler Mehndi who are angry at Subodh Uniyal. Most of the people say that such misbehavior with Kalakar, who came from outside to shine his politics, shows how the public representatives of Uttarakhand government treat them. A large section of the common people as well as those active on social media are angry against what Subodh Uniyal has done. Some people are now writing that Narottam Mishra, a former Home Minister of Madhya Pradesh, also had a similar attitude, due to which his political position slipped.
Also read: 'You are not able to speak, will you sing', on what issue of Daler Mehndi did Subodh Uniyal get angry?
Why are people angry at Subodh Uniyal?
On October 18, Daler Mehndi was in Narendra Nagar of Tehri district. Kunjapuri fair is organized there. There was a Daler Mehndi program in this fair. Here he was doing a live show, when Subodh Uniyal climbs on the stage and picks up the mic. A group of supporters are also present with him. He gets angry at Daler Mehndi. On an open stage in front of thousands of people he says-
We called you after paying so much money. That's why we called our people, Sir, please pay attention, do you mean you are fooling us by sitting here? Making sounds through mixer. It is wrong, it is wrong. A big name, a big name should always be respected. We called you because you have a big name. I told you that I am not going, what song will I sing? This is not right.
Daler Mehndi is seen folding hands. Daler Mehndi is a big name in the world of music. He is a famous personality of the country. Music lovers across the country are enraged by this act. Journalists, artists and common citizens are writing on social media that this is an insult to Punjab, Punjabiyat and art. If a representative of Uttarakhand government behaves like this, then with what right will people go there? There is maximum resentment in the Punjabi community.
Uttarakhand BJP also has no regrets?
The stand of Uttarakhand Bharatiya Janata Party on the indecency with Daler Mehndi is also unclear. BJP's media co-in-charge Vinay Goyal said, 'I am a fan of Daler Mehndi, but such scenes seen in the religious event of Maa Kunjapuri during Navratri are hurting the sentiments of the devotees. If Daler Mehndi was not well, the organizers should have been informed about it in advance. No compromise can be made in the matter of honor of Mother Kunjapuri.
Mika Singh, Daler Mehndi Bhai:-
Sir, I send you the video. See for yourself what happened there. If your minister is seen drunk in the video, then what action will you take against him? Sir, I have a direct question to you, shouldn't rules and accountability be equal for everyone?
Mika Singh also responded to his allegation. He said, 'I come to Uttarakhand and do a show for you absolutely free. Before that, ask your minister to apologize to Daler Mehndi ji. Daler Paaji had given a performance of 1 hour 30 minutes and many people present there were dancing with him. Despite this, he was accused of performing under the influence of alcohol.
Also read: Narottam Mishra cried in Ashutosh Tiwari's nomination rally, CM took over
One is theft, the other is theft?
Subodh Uniyal after misbehaving with Daler Mehndi:-
Daler Mehndi Sahab is a very big name, a very big singer. That's why we called those people. After the call, when it appeared on the stage that he was only lip-syncing and not singing, people said. I am the local representative there and also the patron of the fair committee, there was pressure from people to ask them.
Subodh Uniyal said, 'I called the anchor. Told the anchor that brother, we all have come to listen to Daler Mehndi ji, not to listen to his team. Because we have many teams here too. In such a situation, I said that he should at least perform the song here.
Subodh Uniyal after misbehaving with Daler Mehndi:-
After some time, when I talked to the anchor, the anchor gestured to all the musicians and personally went to everyone and asked them to keep gesturing with their hands. It seems as if it is being sung.
A section on social media is writing that first Subodh Uniyal made a mistake. Now instead of admitting their mistake, they are whitewashing it. From what he has said in his defense, it does not appear that he has any remorse for his behavior. People are comparing him with Narottam Mishra.
What are people saying?
Senior actor Anupam Kher got angry at this action of Subodh Uniyal. He said, 'She may have lip-synced, but no one should talk to anyone like this. That too on a public forum, this is not right. It is wrong to accuse someone like this. I think our industry should talk about this. It is not just Mika Singh's responsibility to protect his brother. We must all take a stand for the people we know.
Anupam Kher, Actor:-
I feel bad and I want to tell you, Daler ji, that I have faith in your judgment, professionalism and your greatness and may God bless you and get well soon. I'm sorry you had to go through this.
Rajpal Yadav said, 'I know Daler paaji. He doesn't drink alcohol. A respected minister, in front of thousands of people, a singer whose voice has served the people for decades, was saying such indecent words, it does not suit the honorable minister. It felt like you had bought art. Art is life, respect life. For your information, let me tell you, do not drink alcohol. His health is deteriorating.
Rajpal Yadav, Actor:-
Positions come and go, the position of art has been there for thousands of years, respect art.
Kapil Sharma said, 'Daler paaji has undergone a serious surgery about which people are not aware. We just need to be a little more gentle on each other. We don't know what anyone is going through.
Also read: No ministerial post, no influence, no ticket, why did Narottam Mishra get marginalized in BJP?
What did Daler Paji's brother Mika Singh say?
Mika Singh said, 'The way Daler Mehndi was treated on stage was disappointing. A respectable minister came on stage and accused him of drinking alcohol. Before publishing such claims, shouldn't we check the facts and give the artist a chance to present his side? Would anyone dare to behave like this with an international band like Coldplay?
Is Subodh Uniyal repeating the same mistake as Narottam Mishra?
Just as Subodh Uniyal remains a veteran leader of Bharatiya Janata Party in Uttarakhand, former Home Minister of Madhya Pradesh Narottam Mishra had similar political status. Datia in Madhya Pradesh was his stronghold. In the assembly elections held in the year 2023, he was defeated by Congress candidate Rajendra Bharti. After 2023, by-elections were also held in Datia in the year 2026. He was campaigning for himself, creating an atmosphere but the party did not give him any importance.
When he was the Home Minister, he had become a disaster for the Bharatiya Janata Party. He took many decisions on which questions were raised. He rarely talked about the decisions of his Home Ministry, sometimes his focus was on stopping the shooting, sometimes on the attire of heroines in films. During his tenure, it became difficult for Bollywood directors to shoot in Madhya Pradesh.
What was the mess between Narottam Mishra and Bollywood?
Narottam Mishra faced many controversies. He did not like Deepika's saffron bikini while singing the song 'Besharam Rang' from Shahrukh Khan and Deepika Padukone's film 'Pathan'. He had said that the green and saffron color of the artistes' clothes in the song should be corrected. After his statement, there was an uproar in Madhya Pradesh over this film.
Narottam Mishra (26 December 2021):-
Some heretics are continuously hurting Hindu sentiments. 'Madhuban Mein Radhika Naache' is one such ill-conceived attempt. I am instructing Sunny Leone ji and Sharib Toshi ji to understand and be careful. If both of them do not apologize and remove the song within three days, we will take action against them.
Narottam Mishra has been raising objections to films and their scenes. He was also angry at Adipurush. He had also threatened to register a case. He had directed to register an FIR after the controversy over the poster of filmmaker Leena Manimekalai's documentary Kali. He had called Swara Bhaskar a Pakistani and a Tukde-Tukde gang.
What happened to Narottam Mishra?
While being the Home Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Narottam Mishra took the title of 'cultural watchdog' but his politics got spoiled. He got a bad image from Madhya Pradesh to the entire country. He used to participate in TV debates every now and then, surrounded by mike and camera. His statements were heavily criticized. This aggressive identity could not save his political base.
By being vocal on films and stars, he made a lot of headlines on social media and headlines, but his stance completely ignored the local grassroots issues, anti-incumbency wave and regional caste equations of Datia assembly seat.
The result was that in the 2023 assembly elections, while BJP won a huge majority across the state, Narottam Mishra, who was contesting from Bollywood, lost to Congress candidate Rajendra Bharti from his own stronghold Datia. The youth also avoided him. Critics say that BJP has also kept him marginalized till now because of being a controversial face. Subodh Uniyal is seen going on this path.
Why is Subodh Uniyal's politics at stake?
Assembly elections are going to be held in Punjab in 2027. Now this issue has become of Punjab identity. Punjabis have expressed maximum displeasure over the actions of Subodh Uniyal. People are writing on social media that how will BJP leaders now ask for votes in Punjab. BJP is already politically marginalized in Punjab. Subodh Uniyal is neither apologizing nor accepting his mistake.
Daler Mehndi is considered the cultural identity of Punjab and a globally respected face. Reprimanding him from a public platform by making serious allegations of drug addiction and lip-sync has spread resentment among the people, artists and social circles of Punjab. Now many angry videos of Subodh Uniyal are going viral in Uttarakhand too, when even the common people have reprimanded him. In a video, he is seen entering the booth, people are asking him sharp questions.
Keeping in view the 2027 assembly elections in Punjab, BJP is already busy finding political ground due to farmer movements and local equations. The opposition parties and the public are propagating this as an attack on the honor and dignity of Punjabi people. Now, not only is Subodh Uniyal's own political credibility under question, but a new crisis has arisen in front of the party's electoral future and public relations campaign in Punjab.