It is never too late to apply the brakes on mass gatherings. But the central and state governments need to set an example before pontificating discipline to the masses.
The country recorded a steady increase in cases for the 32nd day. Meanwhile, the Covid-19 death toll has increased to 1,69,275 with 839 new fatalities in the last 24 hours.
Jai Anmol Ambani's Twitter timeline shows multiple retweets of anti-vaccine, anti-masking posts. The 29-year-old also shared a post that called the Covid pandemic a 'global coup'.
India should have secured greater savings by pressing Russia for prices nearer the cap while sustaining high volumes. This would have preserved strategic autonomy and served economic logic.
One such website has drawn particular scrutiny for spreading fake stories that have upset not only the Indian but also foreign defence firms by falsely attributing misinformation.
India should actively delay deescalation and disengagement. We should progress full speed ahead with building critical infrastructure on our side while negotiations are on. Once our tactical aims are achieved, we can both deescalate and disengage.
China is reversing the logical sequence. Large numbers of heavily armed troops very close to each other, the painful memory of Galwan fresh in everyone’s mind, are an immediate risk factor. Once they step back, a buffer zone is created, patrolling is limited for some time, the two sides can think of de escalation. Which in turn requires a degree of trust about the other side’s intentions, which is absent. How and when this standoff will end is difficult for a lay person to judge.
The second wave has the force of a tsunami. 2. It started with the lockdown, where the states were not consulted. Most of them would have seen the announcement on TV. They should – with counselling and guidance from the union health ministry – have been free to set their own containment strategies. 3. States should have procured vaccines for both their public and private programmes. The Centre should have continuously enlarged the pool of approved vaccines, used India’s vast demand to secure fair pricing. 4. India is a vast, chaotic country. Some state administrations may not have measured up fully. A centralised control room in the health ministry should have been monitoring each nook and corner round the clock, intervening effectively whenever required. 5. A column in HT about how the double mutant from Maharashtra is causing so much havoc. More communication with the public. ICMR making a valuable contribution. 6. To end on a cheerful note. Credible computer modelling is showing Maharashtra is levelling off at about 60,000 cases. Perhaps India following suit by about 25th April. May God be kind.
Depending on the nature of background checks which are required – which would be more rigorous for practising lawyers than serving judicial officers – it should be possible for the law ministry to complete the vetting process in two to three months. To make allowance for this, the Collegium could advance its own process, upto six months before a vacancy arises. 2. Once the Collegium reiterates its earlier recommendation, having dealt with the government’s reservations, there is no scope or justification for sitting on a proposal. Sign on the dotted line.
India should actively delay deescalation and disengagement. We should progress full speed ahead with building critical infrastructure on our side while negotiations are on. Once our tactical aims are achieved, we can both deescalate and disengage.
China is reversing the logical sequence. Large numbers of heavily armed troops very close to each other, the painful memory of Galwan fresh in everyone’s mind, are an immediate risk factor. Once they step back, a buffer zone is created, patrolling is limited for some time, the two sides can think of de escalation. Which in turn requires a degree of trust about the other side’s intentions, which is absent. How and when this standoff will end is difficult for a lay person to judge.
The second wave has the force of a tsunami. 2. It started with the lockdown, where the states were not consulted. Most of them would have seen the announcement on TV. They should – with counselling and guidance from the union health ministry – have been free to set their own containment strategies. 3. States should have procured vaccines for both their public and private programmes. The Centre should have continuously enlarged the pool of approved vaccines, used India’s vast demand to secure fair pricing. 4. India is a vast, chaotic country. Some state administrations may not have measured up fully. A centralised control room in the health ministry should have been monitoring each nook and corner round the clock, intervening effectively whenever required. 5. A column in HT about how the double mutant from Maharashtra is causing so much havoc. More communication with the public. ICMR making a valuable contribution. 6. To end on a cheerful note. Credible computer modelling is showing Maharashtra is levelling off at about 60,000 cases. Perhaps India following suit by about 25th April. May God be kind.
Depending on the nature of background checks which are required – which would be more rigorous for practising lawyers than serving judicial officers – it should be possible for the law ministry to complete the vetting process in two to three months. To make allowance for this, the Collegium could advance its own process, upto six months before a vacancy arises. 2. Once the Collegium reiterates its earlier recommendation, having dealt with the government’s reservations, there is no scope or justification for sitting on a proposal. Sign on the dotted line.