log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday MONDAY JANUARY 9, 2023 GOA CM: Full State will be accessible to PwDs PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said that his government will ensure that the entire State will be accessible to Persons with Disabilities. Speaking at the concluding function of threeday Purple Fest in Panaji, Sawant said the festival has led to better understanding of issues related to PwDs.   >> See pg 3 Travel agency in Margao raided MARGAO: A raid conducted by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) on a Margao-based travel agency on Sunday revealed that fake IDs were being allegedly used to book train tickets and to sell the tickets at a premium. The RPF team seized a total of 62 fake IDs and lakhs of railway tickets. >> See pg 2 Calangute locals rally against dance bars MAPUSA: Calangute PI Dattaguru Sawant’s failure to take action against illegal dance bars came under the scanner even as a large number of people mainly comprising of the youth marched through the streets of Calangute to express their angst against illegalities.  >> See pg 5 Impasse over Margao fish market continues MARGAO: Three month on, the stalemate over the wholesale fish market at Margao continues with neither the wholesale fish market being shifted to the makeshift site nor the work being expedited on the construction of the State-of-the-art wholesale fish market.  >> See pg 2 Goa feels the shivers, temperature drops PANAJI: The minimum temperature in the State in the first week of the New Year has risen above normal and has been hovering between 20.5 to 22.5 though normal temperature is around 22 C. Panaji may also record minimum temperature of 17.5 C in the next three days, IMD said in its forecast. Karnataka native held with drugs PANAJI: In yet another drug seizure, a 51-year-old Karnataka native was held with narcotic drugs worth Rs 1.5 lakh by Crime Branch from Marna, Siolim. The accused was arrested for being in illegal possession of narcotic substance suspected to be Cocaine and MDMA. WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: TIDES 33 C 20 C 85% Low: 06:34 18:07 High: 00:46 11:26 The Goan (Playstore) 12 pages PRICE ` 8 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VIII, NO. 202 ST communities livid over no political quota during the last two decades IN SHORT >> Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday 2 GOA Tense situation in Sancoale; comunidade, locals clash over road access 3 Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Can stretching help you to lose weight? 2 children found dead at home in Candolim FATHER FOUND HANGING BEHIND HIS HOUSE Autopsy: Death due to strangulation THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA In a bone-chilling incident, a man is believed to have committed suicide after allegedly killing his two minor children at Orda in Candolim. Joy Fernandes (47) was found hanging in the woods behind his house early Sunday morning, while his 13-year-old daughter and eight-year-old son were found dead, apparently strangulated to death, inside the house late Saturday evening. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem even as the police have registered a case of unnatural death and are investigating further. “Two children and father have died. What triggered off the incident is still under investigation and it is not proper for us to draw a conclusion at this juncture. Based on forensic findings and evidence available we will be able to come to some conclusion,” said Bosco George, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), who visited the place of crime on Sunday morning. Police informed that the incident took place between 12 The woods behind the house of the Joy Fernandes.   Agnelo Pereira DEATH OF KIDS LEAVES VILLAGERS IN A STATE OF SHOCK  >> See pg 3 noon and 10 pm on Saturday. The mother of the children was not at home as she was reportedly attending a wedding ceremony in the village. Sources close to the family of the deceased informed that the mother after returning from the wedding found the door locked from inside and therefore tried to call her husband on the mobile phone. As her repeated calls went unanswered she reportedly alerted the neighbours who then broke open the back door of the house and found the two children unconscious on the floor. The Calangute Police were informed about the incident at around 10.30 pm. The two children were rushed to the Candolim primary health centre where they were declared brought dead. Police then began searching for the father who was untraceable till late night. On Sunday morning, the man’s body was found hang- MAPUSA: The autopsy conducted on the two minor children has revealed that the death was due to strangulation while the death of the father has been said due to hanging. The post mortem report received late on Sunday evening said that both the children died due to “asphyxia as a result of strangulation by ligature” while the father Joy Fernandes’ death was due to “asphyxia and cerebral venous congestion as a result of hanging by ligature.” “We have received the post mortem report which says death due to strangulation. Investigation is going on under Section 174 of the CrPC,” said Bosco George, DIG. ing from a tree behind their house, police informed. The North Goa SP, Nidhin Valsan said that prima facie, it looks like the father has killed the children and then committed suicide. 10 NEW DELHI Indians may have been issued the largest number of UK students visa this year but finding accommodation and surviving in cities where their colleges or universities are based has become a challenge for international students with the increase in inflation. According to students and industry experts, the study abroad journey has become a bumpy road for the students who have just moved to the country making it no less than a nightmare to have no roof over their heads in a country that is completely alien to them. Their woes aren't limited to Djokovic shrugs off injury scare to win Adelaide title Yuri to meet Speaker, submit letter on discussion THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI A demand for discussion of the contentious Mhadei issue will be considered if it comes from MLAs through proper channel, Goa legislative assembly Speaker, Ramesh Tawadkar said on Sunday in signs of a thawing of his relationship with the combined Opposition. "If the proposal comes from MLAs through the proper channel, it will be considered. It is a long pending issue which has now reached a peak. A discussion on it is required," Tawadkar said. Earlier in the day, Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao had said he would approach the Speaker and submit a letter demanding a one-day discussion on Mhadei. He said, he would also place before the Speaker the demand for a private member's business day during the upcoming winter session slated to begin from January 16. "I will be submitting written letter to Hon'ble Speaker Bab @ramesh_tawadkar tomorrow before the Business Advisory Committee Meeting & demand 1. One Day Discussion on Mhadei 2. Private Members Business Day," Alemao tweeted, adding that he Mopa airport flies high, clocks 100 flights in 3 days finding an affordable accommodation but also surviving amid continuously rising food inflation which has increased their daily expenses. UK inflation jumped to a record high in 2022. The Consumer Prices Index, including owner occupiers'' housing costs (CPIH), rose by 8.8 per cent in the 12 months upto September 2022. As per the November stats by the Office for National Statistics, the inflation rate sky-rocketed at 9.3 per cent. According to British High Commission's statistics, India has now overtaken China as the largest nationality being issued sponsored study visas in the UK. Indians received the largest number of UK student —Ramesh Tawadkar ON PAGE 2 RG to go solo on Mhadei agitation Vijai supports call by activists for Mhadei rally in Sanquelim will also raise other issues. Dialogue between the united Opposition and the Speaker had broken down after the latter had refused to meet them accusing them of insulting the Speaker's office, taking umbrage to an Opposition member Vijai Sardesai's allegation that the govern- THE GOAN I NETWORK We have reached our first milestone! With the 100th flight movement scheduled. It is indeed a moment of pride for New Goa Manohar International GROUND LEVEL: A temple collapses after the gradual ‘sinking’ of Joshimath in Chamoli Airport,” district of Uttarakhand on Sunday. (Report on pg 6) —GMR Group said, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will hold a meeting with stakeholders to review the functioning of the newly inaugurated Mopa airport. “It's been three days since the airport started functioning. There are bound to be some teething problems. We are gathering all the information about these problems and will meet chief minister on Tuesday, Khaunte said. State Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho will also be present for the meeting, which will also be attended by the stakeholders of the new facility, he said. If the proposal comes from MLAs through the proper channel, it will be considered. It is a long pending issue which has now reached a peak,” ment should not consider the Speaker as its employee. Sardesai had made the statement in the context of the winter session of the Assembly being restricted to just four days which he alleged was done at the behest of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. Citing Sardesai's statement, Tawadkar had refused to keep an appointment with the joint Opposition which wanted to petition him to consider increasing the number of working days of the session. On Sunday, however, Tawadkar apparently softened his stance and has indicated an open mind for a discussion on Mhadei. "All 40 MLAs are committed to protection of interest of the State," Tawadkar said, adding that as the Speaker he is open to constructive suggestions by the Opposition on genuine issues. The Opposition's main bone of contention is that the winter session is restricted to just four days. Since it is to end on Thursday, the private members business day on Friday is eliminated this session. "Private Members Business is held on Fridays, but as the session concludes on Thursday, Opposition MLAs will not get an opportunity," Alemao had said. Storm in Congress over Sankalp’s claim of RSS link THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In just three days of commencement of its commercial operations, the Manohar International Airport at Mopa has already logged its 100th flight, landing and take-off included, its first milestone. "We have reached our first milestone! With the 100th flight movement scheduled. It is indeed a moment of pride for New Goa Manohar International Airport,” said GMR Goa International Airport Limited, the GMR group owned company which has the concession of the airport for 40 years. Earlier last week, GGIAL had said the MIA will be scaled to attend to 13.5 million passengers annually in the next five years. The company has plans to develop it into a destination airport with an Aero City encompassing amusement park, hotels and other facilities built around it. Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, meanwhile 12 Tawadkar open to debate on Mhadei in Assembly Taxi fare is fair, making bills viral not solution: Minister THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Spooked by the traction to the Goa Taxi App bill to a client for a Mopa-Benaulim ride which went viral on social media, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte on Sunday said it is still early days and the app's functioning will be re- viewed and streamlined and that making bills viral is not the solution. Khaunte, who as tourism minister was instrumental in launching the GEL-promoted app for aggregator taxi services, nonetheless defended the fare in the viral taxi bill saying it conforms to the notified rates of the transport depart- ment. "If anyone has issues with that, there is room for discussion. We will discuss and find a solution,” Khaunte said, adding that issues do crop up with any new initiative. "We will review and streamline things. Making bills viral >Continued on P5 Affordable living: Study abroad trips for Indians get tougher PTI SPORTS FOOD FOR THOUGHT „„Rising cost of living has increased the financial burden on students abroad „„It has also led to a jump in demand for top-up loans „„Lenders have also increased the loan amount limit to pursue education abroad „„Students’ woes aren't limited to finding an affordable accommodation but also surviving amid continuously rising food inflation „„UK inflation jumped to a record high in 2022 visas at 1.27 lakh for the year ending in September 2022. “I was forced to spend around Rs 1 lakh while shifting between Airbnbs between October 1 to October 21 last year and had over 10 in-person viewings for accommodation after arriving in London. I was out everyday on weekdays too after college, said Chayanika Dubey, who flew to the UK three months back to pursue Masters in Administration and Cultural Policy at the Goldsmiths University of London. Naman Makkar, a student currently pursuing MSc in International Business at Aston University in Birmingam, tries to stay optimistic while battling such high prices. “With the current inflation rates, keeping my expenses to a minimum is a challenge in itself. I tend to focus on the essentials, but do try to take care of my cravings at times, because when you are away from home, you cannot afford to neglect the importance of self-care,” he said. The unfolding scenario is also making some study abroad aspirants apprehensive about choosing the country as their destination. Skandha Rajeev, a class 12 student, said, “Ever since class six I have always dreamt of doing my Bachelors from the UK and preparing accordingly. But with the constant financial crisis in the country I decided to go for a realistic approach by choosing a less inflated country as compared to the UK”. Rajeev has instead chosen to study Electronics Engineering from Canada later. Anubhav Seth, AVP, Career Launcher, however, feels that a massive shift in the popular choice of study abroad destinations is unlikely. “The US, UK, Canada and Australia remain top destinations for students going abroad for higher education. PANAJI Mormugao MLA and Congress turncoat Sankalp Amonkar's claim that he was "associated with the RSS" from his student days has triggered an internal storm within the Opposition party with a section accusing the leadership of sabotage in the Assembly elections last year. Amonkar had attended RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's public meeting on Saturday on the sidelines of which he told the media of his closeness to the RSS since his college days. He was a known acolyte of former GPCC president Girish Chodankar who faced allegations from party functionaries of having an understanding with the Sangh. The internal discord within the Congress spilled over to the public domain on Sunday with prominent party functionaries, including its Dabolim candidate Capt Viriato Fernandes and its media cell head Amarnath Panjikar Amonkar had attended RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's public meeting on Saturday on the sidelines of which he told the media of his closeness to the RSS since his college days among others engaging in a war of words on Twitter. Chodankar, however, stayed aloof of the controversy and has kept silent over the Twitter spat which was sparked off with party functionary Shamila Siddiqui seeking an explanation from the former GPCC chief to Congress workers if he was aware of Amonkar's background. Siddiqui in her tweet directed at Chodankar tagged recently appointed Goa desk in-charge Manickam Tagore, current GPCC president Amit Patkar, Leader of Opposition >Continued on P5