Sunil Chadha
Dharamshala: A letter purportedly issued by the Kangra unit of the Himachal Pradesh Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department seeking financial contributions for Kangra Valley Carnival has gone viral on social media after being posted by Dharamshala BJP MLA Sudhir Sharma on his Facebook page.
The letter, dated December 17, 2025, is addressed to all petrol pumps, LPG agencies, HPTL licence holders, rice and flour millers and brick kiln owners in Kangra district, requesting them to contribute towards the organisation of the “Kangra Valley Karnival”, with the word “Carnival” misspelt as “Karnival” throughout the document.
Sharing the letter, Sudhir Sharma alleged that the state government was “openly asking” private businesses to pay for the event. Earlier with the Congress, Sudhir Sharma had quit the party after being denied a ministerial berth and was seen leading the rebellion against Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
“‘Ugahi maang maang kar tamasha dikhane walon, ye parda tumhare chehre se bhi ek din uthega’ (those trying to run the show by repeatedly demanding collections, the veil from your faces too will one day be lifted),” Sudhir wrote while posting the letter.
According to the contents of the letter, the district administration is organising the carnival as a cultural and social event to promote local art, culture, tourism and community participation. It purportedly asks recipients to extend “valuable support by way of financial contribution” and states that the money should be routed through inspectors of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department and submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, Kangra.
The Newz Radar could not independently verify the authenticity and official credentials of the letter, which is purportedly signed by Purshotam Singh, District Controller of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs at Kangra district in Dharamshala.
Adding to the political buzz, former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP leader Jai Ram Thakur had also shared the same letter on his Facebook page. However, the post was deleted after some time, further fuelling speculation and debate over the document’s authenticity and intent.
The issue has sparked a fresh political flashpoint in Himachal Pradesh, with the opposition accusing the Sukhu-led government of coercive fundraising, while the government is yet to issue an official clarification on the viral letter.
Following is the complete content of the letter:
No. FDS-KGR-Summer Karnival-18937-94J
Government of Himachal Pradesh
Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department
From:
The District Controller,
Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs,
Kangra at Dharamshala (H.P.)
To:
All Petrol Pump Owners,
District Kangra, H.P.
All LPG Gas Agencies,
District Kangra, H.P.
All HPTL Licence Holders,
District Kangra, H.P.
All Rice and Flour Millers,
District Kangra, H.P.
All Brick Kiln Owners,
District Kangra, H.P.
Dated: 17 December, 2025
Subject:
Request for Contribution for Kangra Valley Karnival
Sir,
Please find enclosed herewith a copy of letter No. 512/Kangra Karnival/D.N. dated 18-11-2025 received from the Deputy Commissioner, Kangra at Dharamshala, H.P., on the subject cited above.
It is respectfully submitted that the District Administration, Kangra, is organising the Kangra Valley Karnival, a cultural and social event aimed at promoting local art, culture, tourism and community participation in the district. The Karnival is a prestigious platform that showcases the rich heritage of Kangra Valley and encourages the socio-economic development of the district.
In this regard, you are kindly requested to extend your valuable support by way of financial contribution for the successful organisation of the Kangra Valley Karnival. Your generous contribution will go a long way in ensuring the smooth conduct of the event and will significantly contribute towards making the Karnival a grand success.
The contribution may please be sent through your Inspectors Grade-I, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department, District Kangra, H.P., at the earliest, preferably on or before the stipulated date, so that the same may be consolidated and submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, Kangra at Dharamshala accordingly.
Yours faithfully,
Purshotam Singh
District Controller
Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs,
Kangra at Dharamshala
Phone No.: 01892-222877
Email: dfsc-kan.hp@nic.in
