BHUBANESWAR, SEPT 21: The boom of guns in the treacherous terrains of Kargil has died down, but its echo reverberates in the country. It is a different battle now, yet Kargil is still the focal point. The martyrs have been resurrected for political gains and they find place in the lofty rhetoric of leaders.The parents of the heroes are justifiably unhappy about the political games being played over the dead bodies of their wards. They maintain that the ``Kargil campaigning'' must stop.Jadunath and Jhumuru Maharana, parents of Gopinath Maharana, the first Kargil martyr from the State, are shocked that the sacrifice of their son has become a topic of election campaign. Still in shock over Gopinath's death, the two have no interest in the polls. Yet they are aware that he is being used for political gains.``The political parties have been playing a nasty game by unnecessarily raising the Kargil issue and trying to get benefits out of the death of hundreds of soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the motherland,'' laments Jadunath. Jhumuru agrees, saying she won't cast her vote this year.Holding six-year old Abhisek in her arms, Shantilata Das, widow of sepoy Gangaram Das, the eighth Oriya martyr from Kargil, says ``There is no point in voting when I have lost my husband at such an early age.''``Who should I hold responsible for the death of my husband? Whose fault is it that intruders entered our territory and snatched away my husband and several others like him?'' she fumes.Nabaghan Sahu, 60, the father of martyr Naik Manas Ranjan Sahu, is asthmatic. Yet, braving the debilitating disease, he came all the way from Purnagarh to Bhubaneswar to attend a function in memory of the Kargil martyrs held recently.Sahu says, ``Last year I was not able to walk properly due to my disease and Manas took me to the polling booth on his motorcycle. This year, I don't think I can go to cast my vote. Moreover, I am not interested in it any more.''``People whom we never met in our life have been talking about our emotions and our rights. We have become a good source for political speeches,'' laments B K Sahu, cousin of Rajkishore Sahu, another martyr.Pulling out a newspaper cutting from his file, Gopal Pradhan, father of Ratan Pradhan, shows how the leader of a major political party blames his counterparts for not caring for the emotions of the family members of the Kargil martyrs.``While using the names of our children for political benefits, the politicians should try to feel the agony the family members are experiencing. But unfortunately, these people have not understood the importance of sacrificing life for the nation,'' Pradhan rued.The frequent use of Kargil in the election campaigning has deeply hurt 22-year-old Basanti Patro, widow of S Srinivas Patro. In a depressed voice Basanti says, ``I have no respect for the politicians who are making a farce in the name of elections and unnecessarily involving the Kargil martyrs for their political gain. But, I will definitely cast my vote.''
