Himachal Government Accused of Extortion Disguised as Cultural Event Fundraising

BJP MLAs allege that the Congress-led Himachal government is extorting money under the pretense of organizing cultural events. A letter from Kangra district administration seeking donations for a carnival sparked controversy. The BJP demands an inquiry and warns of protests if the alleged policy persists.

The BJP MLAs have accused the Congress-led Himachal Pradesh government of extortion, disguised as fundraising for cultural events. This allegation follows a viral letter from the Kangra district administration urging businesses to donate for a carnival.

Bikram Thakur and Sudhir Sharma, MLAs from Jaswan-Pragpur and Dharamshala respectively, assert the letter exemplifies the government's policy to exploit funds through so-called cultural initiatives. Thakur criticized the omission of such events from the state budget, claiming it pressures the public financially.

Sharma condemned the demand for contributions from businesses, labeling it as a neglect of democratic principles. The BJP vows street protests if the alleged extortion policy continues, expressing concern over administrative competency due to spelling errors in the letter.

(With inputs from agencies.)