Bishop Peter Saldanha, Abdulla Kunhi, Dr. Shantaram Shetty call for unity during interfaith iftar
Mangalore: An interfaith Iftar gathering was held at The Yenepoya School Ground, Jeppinamogaru, on Saturday, bringing together prominent dignitaries and community leaders to celebrate the spirit of Ramadan and reinforce the values of unity and brotherhood. The event was organized by Dr. N. Vinaya Hegde, Chancellor of Nitte (Deemed to be University), Most Rev. Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of the Diocese of Mangalore, and Dr. Yenepoya Abdulla Kunhi, Chancellor of Yenepoya (Deemed to be University).
Speaking at the gathering, Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha emphasized the importance of communal harmony, stating that such gatherings help people understand each other and strengthen the bonds between communities. He highlighted the message of Ramadan, urging everyone to hold on to humanity and brotherhood, especially in challenging times.
Renowned orthopedic surgeon and Pro-Chancellor of Nitte University, Dr. Shantharam Shetty, echoed these sentiments. He remarked that all faiths—be it Islam, Christianity, or Hinduism—preach love and unity. Citing scriptures from different religions, he underscored the universal message of brotherhood and the need for collective coexistence.
Dr. Yenepoya Abdulla Kunhi elaborated on the significance of Ramadan, noting that the event was aimed at fostering interfaith understanding. "The best religion in the world is humanity," he stated, reinforcing the idea that Prophet Mohammed’s message was one of unity and peace. He expressed gratitude to all attendees for participating in the event and contributing to its success.
As the sun set, Ustad Salman led the azaan prayers, marking the time for Iftar. Attendees broke their fast together, sharing a meal in the spirit of togetherness and communal harmony.
The event was attended by several key figures including Karnataka Assembly Speaker UT Khader, MLC Ivan D’Souza, Farhaad Yenepoya, Prof. Dr. UT Iftikhar Ali, and several other prominent personalities and officials.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
PM Modi holds bilateral talks with several leaders
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held talks with top leaders of Mauritius, Sri Lanka and Slovakia with a focus on shoring up bilateral cooperation in trade and technology sectors.
He also held a meeting with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and discussed how the global body can play a "constructive role" in making use of artificial intelligence inclusive.
Modi met Guterres and other leaders on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit.
We talked about making AI all inclusive and how the UN can play a constructive role in this regard, the prime minister said on his talks with the UN chief.
"Reiterated India's support towards any effort aimed at harnessing AI for a better planet. We also exchanged perspectives on UN reforms, especially giving greater voice to the Global South," he said on social media.
Following his talks with Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Modi said both sides will continue to work in close cooperation to ensure regional security and prosperity.
"Delighted to meet Prime Minister of Mauritius, Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam. Reaffirmed our shared commitment to take our enhanced Strategic Partnership to new heights in AI, technology, culture and people-to-people ties," he said.
Modi also described Mauritius as a vital partner in India's MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision.
On his meeting with Sri Lankan president Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the prime minister said: "We took stock of the progress in India-Sri Lanka relations in the recent times."
"We also discussed avenues of cooperation in areas such as energy, connectivity, infrastructure, healthcare, skilling, culture, blue economy and more," he added.
Modi said he and Slovak President Peter Pellegrini discussed bilateral cooperation in areas of defence, space and digital public infrastructure.
My meeting with Peter Pellegrini, President of the Slovak Republic was "very productive", the prime minister said on social media.
"The recent India-EU FTA will create several opportunities to boost trade and investment between our nations. Other subjects we discussed included cooperation in digital technology, StartUps, Digital Public Infrastructure, defence, space and more," he said.
