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.
NEET student hangs self in Rajasthan's Sikar
Jaipur (PTI): A student preparing for the NEET examination allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in a rented room in Rajasthan's Sikar on Friday, police said.
According to the police, the student allegedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan using his sister's scarf while one sister was attending coaching classes and the other was in the bathroom.
He had appeared in the NEET UG exam 2026, which was cancelled due to paper leak, they said.
Udyog Nagar SHO Rajesh Kumar said that the deceased, identified as Pradeep Meghwal, was a resident of Kanika ki Dhani village in Jhunjhunu's Gudha Gaudji area.
He had been living in a rented room in Sikar's Jaldhari Nagar area with his two sisters while preparing for NEET over the last three years.
His elder sister later found him hanging and informed the landlord and police after bringing him down, officials said.
The SHO said the body was kept at SK Hospital mortuary, and a postmortem had not been conducted.
The student's father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, told police that Pradeep's NEET examination had gone well and the family was expecting him to score around 650 marks.
Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot expressed grief over the incident and linked it to anxiety among students after reports of irregularities and paper leaks in NEET 2026.
Pilot said repeated paper leak incidents and cancellation of examinations were affecting students' mental health and demanded a time-bound investigation and strict action against those responsible.
