In what could be the biggest-ever public meeting organised by any Muslim body here, anybody who was somebody turned up at the Memon Hall in Chokbara, along with Union textile minister Kashiram Rana, water resources minister Narottam Patel, mayor Savita Sharda, police commissioner Kuldip Sharma, collector Sangeeta Singh, BJP city president Pravin Naik, SUDA chairman Arvind Godiwala, former minister and Congress state vice-president Thakorebhai Naik, former mayor Qadir Pirzada, and South Gujarat University vice-chancellor Prem Sharda.

School children sang Sare Jaha Se Achha Hindustan Hamara, while their elders condemned Pakistan for what they called its ``treacherous act'' in Kargil which goes against the spirit of the Lahore declaration.

``After the Lahore Declaration, one hoped that relations between the two countries would improve, but then Pakistan sent intruders, bringing the two countries to the brink of war,'' said senior journalist Jafaruddin Bukhari.

Stating that the ``Indian soldiers are considered the best in the world'', the police commissioner said, ``Our jawans and officers are in high spirits. When I see them on television I can see them in an upbeat mood. And such a gesture of solidarity, even if far off places like in Surat, will help boost the jawans' morale.

``It is very important to make our soldiers realise that the whole nation is with them. It is a small gesture on our part for those protecting our borders at 14,000 feet'', said Sharma. The police commissioner concluded his speech saying no community needed to explain what sacrifices it had made for the nation. Maulvi Kazi Khalid sought to dispel ``misconceptions'' about Islamic teachings, saying many ignorant people believed that Islam preaches Jehad. ``It is a distorted view of Islam, propagated by those who do not understand it,'' he said.

Barring a few aberrations, the Maulvi said, India has been a genuinely ``secular country'' where Muslims enjoy more freedom to practice their religion than Pakistan, even though Pakistan was created in Islam's name. In Pakistan today, people are shot dead while offering namaz. In fact, Muslims in Pakistan feel that they would have been happier in India, he said. The meeting concluded with prayers for the well-being of the jawans.

In keeping up its patriotic fervour, ASMA plans to hold a solidarity rally on Wednesday. Starting from Bhagal Char Rasta at 2.30 p.m. and passing through Bhaga talav and Nanpura, the rally will terminate at the collectorate where a memorandum will be presented to the collector.