Some BJP-sympathisers plan to release an audio cassette series of patriotic songs by the first week of next month to augment the patriotic euphoria sweeping the country.

It is no coincidence that the party plans to celebrate August Kranti Day -- the anniversary of the Quit India Movement -- on August 9 in a big way. Prime Minister A B Vajpayee's speech from ramparts of the Red Fort on Independence Day is also likely to highlight the Kargil victory. The party will also celebrate `Vijay Diwas' on August 15, BJP sources said.

Besides the BJP cadre, the Department of Audio-Visual Publicity (DAVP) of the Government too will contribute in drumming the Kargil victory, they added.

Party bosses are also elated by a recent survey on popular reaction to a move to make Kargil anelection issue, conducted by Research and Development Initiatives (RDI) -- a marketing research agency headed by Dr Devendra Kumar.

The RDI had sampled 500 persons in 20 villages of three North Indian states earlier this week. Six of the villages had produced Army personnel who laid down their lives in Kargil. The survey found patriotic feelings sweeping almost all sampled villages. But interestingly, not much difference was found in the sentiments of people in both Kargil-affected villages and those unaffected by the conflict.

Over 98 percent people supported the government on its military actions in Kargil while its success on diplomatic front got the nod of 85 per cent people. As many as 75 per cent people supported the government's decision not to cross the Line of Control. Almost 70 per cent people opined that BJP could ably handle the Kargil issue while 17 per cent favoured the Congress.

Kargil however, emerged as fourth most important issue for coming elections with leadership, employment,electricity and water getting higher ratings. The other crucial issues identified by the survey were the nuclear test, Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin, protection to minorities and reservation for women in that order.

The government had earlier made conscious efforts to ensure that the bodies of most Kargil martyrs reached their native villages. The BJP had also instructed its cadre to help the dependents of the martyrs.