While the originator of this thread has his opinion vis-a-vis Prashant Tamang, to which he is perfectly entitled to by the by, but I think he might've missed one point that I would like to mention here.

Tamang's crowning as Indian Idol was much larger than just winning the competition of singing talent.  

It was a result of monumental unified effort to gain recognition of Nepalis living in India, Nepal and rest of the world.  Furthermore, it was an assertion made by Nepali Indians to mainstream India that they are as much an Indian citizen as any of the plains people (i.e. Punjabis, Gujratis, Marhatis, Tamils etc. who come to mind when we think of Indians).

Indians from Northeast part of the country frequently feel segregated and pushed aside from the national dialogue and image.  Somehow their mountainous land, their fair skin, their slanted eyes caused them to be designated to 2nd class citizenship at best, or foreigner at worst, in general Indian perception.  This was the fight that had to be fought.  Indian Idol proved to be the convenient battlefield and Prashant Tamang rose to be the willing soldier in this endeavor.

The movement that made Prashant Tamang an Indian Idol was a response and answer - inadequate as it may be - in this quest.  It had less to do with Prashant Tamang, a singer, than Prashant Tamang, a personification of  Nepali Indians in Darjeeling and Northeastern Indians.

Just my two cents.

ps:  I know, Amazing, this thread probably does not deserve further debate as this cat has been skinned nine times over, but... please bear with me.