The Army has its own blood banks and it has been clearly spelt out by the spokesman of the centres allowed to collect blood on behalf of the Army, that they have never made any appeal for collecting blood for Indian Army jawans fighting in Kargil, Kashmir. Nor has the blood so far collected, reached them (these centres). It transpired during discussion that the Army was not in need for blood at the moment.

What then is the mystery surrounding the holding of blood donation camps or starting relief funds? According to a medical officer of the, base hospital, there has been no dearth as yet of blood in the Army's blood banks. There was no great demand for blood even now. But people in general were offering blood for the jawans, as they are concerned about the developments in Kargil.

The concerned medical officer welcomed the goodwill being expressed by the common people. But the question is being asked about people organizing the blood donation camps.

Different political parties, voluntary organisations, industries and trader's bodies are holding blood donation camps. There are frantic efforts being made in small localities to hold blood donation camps for the army jawans fighting in Kargil. The Red Cross Society in Delhi and the Pusa Blood Bank let it be known clearly that it would not be correct to say that blood was being collected for the Jawans only. These two organisations were also not aware of blood donation camps. One of the physicians of the Pusha Road Blood Bank Mr. Dibyalal has no information about the possible destinations of blood collected at these camps. But he confirmed that his Blood bank had not received an iota of blood from these camps. Neither his organisation was called to collect blood in any of such camps being organized.

The Director of the Indian Red Cross Society Mr. S.P. Jindal said there was no appeal received so far from the Army for blood for use to treat jawans. The blood banks too can never store blood for jawans only, nor was it feasible too. Blood gets spoilt and as a life-saving substance it is very dear as well, Mr. Jindal said. Which is why such special blood-donation camps could not be encouraged.

The Army the Defence Ministry the public and private blood bank organisations are not supporting holding special blood donation camps for the Kargil jawans of the Indian Army. Yet such blood donation camps spring up here and there, in alleyes and bylanes, even in non-descript places. A retired officer of the Indian Air Force S.P. Singh has possibly genuinely found something mysterious in such blood donation camps.

Mr Singh wondered if the hysteria that marked the demolition of the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya would be renewed over the issue of organisation of special blood donation camps now.