PANIPAT: In this handloom town, it's business as usual. What seems to be worrying people is the lack of ``real issues''. Shopkeeper Manohar Lal Takkar, who is here from Karnal to take bulk supply of towels, laments the manner in which Vajpayee and his allies are flaunting the Kargil victory. ``I don't understand why they are talking about it. If any other party had been in power and the Pakistanis intruded, they would have done the same. The same is true for the Congress. They should not criticise the government on this front,'' he says.Mukund Garg, who owns a spare parts shop, nods vehemently. ``I bet there are hundreds of things which can affect people. Par yeh log us baare mein koi chinta thoda hi karte hain (But these people do not bother about that). I am more worried about the traffic blockades on the highway,'' he says before an impatient Juneja, who appears to be a vocal supporter of Congress candidate Bhajan Lal, cuts him short.``Kargil is not just an election issue, it is a question ofsecurity of the country. And who says that they do not talk about development projects? Bhajan Lal has done quite a bit for Panipat,'' he insists. Garg and Takkar scoff at him. ``They all come to us for our votes. What's worse is that they want us to give them money as well,'' adds Takkar.``Why do you pay? The BJP workers wanted me to help their candidate financially, but I refused. Is the Congress also asking for funds? I don't think Bhajan Lal needs money. Last Sunday, he was here in his Mercedes,'' says Rajinder Vashisht, who owns a restaurant.CHANDIGARH: Waiting at a railway crossing at Morinda, about 40 km from Chandigarh, one is approached by a bhutta vendor peddling ``Sonia marka chhalli'' (Sonia brand of roasted corn-cob) for Rs 2 each. A scooterist tells him in jest, ``Mainu Vajpayee marka chaheeda'' (I want the Vajpayee brand). Without fumbling, the vendor snaps: ``Come around this time tomorrow, I will bring it from the vegetable market, for you. Today it is not available.''- NavneetSharma and Rajinder Taggar
