02 NEW DELHI

TUESDAY
APRIL 13, 2021

Page One Plus

{ MY INDIA } BYPASS OPERATION { MY INDIA } MARITIME MUSEUM IDEA JUNKED { MY INDIA } ‘ABSOLUTELY FRIVOLOUS’

Post-surgery, Prez Top court clears decks for SC junks plea to

A Dispatch Kovind out of AIIMS dismantling of INS Viraat delete Quran verses

President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday said he
has returned to Rashtrapati Bhavan after bypass
surgery at the AIIMS in New Delhi. “I have returned
to Rashtrapati Bhavan after my surgery. My speedy
recovery is thanks to wishes and prayers of all of you
and exceptional care given by doctors and nursing
staff at AIIMS and Army’s RR hospital. I am thankful
to everyone! I am glad to be back home,” Kovind
tweeted. Kovind, 75 , had on March 30 undergone a
cardiac bypass surgery at the All India Institute of
Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the Capital. PTI
The Supreme Court on Monday cleared the decks for the
dismantling of iconic warship INS Viraat, dismissing a petition on
converting the decommissioned vessel into a maritime museum. A
bench, headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde, noted that the ship
has already been 40% dismantled by a ship-breaking firm that bought it
in an auction last year. After the Bombay high court refused to interfere,
Envitech Marine Consultants moved the top court with a plea that it
was willing to buy INS Viraat and convert it into a maritime museum. →P6
The Supreme Court on Monday imposed a
penalty of ₹50,000 on former chairman of Shia Waqf
Board Syed Waseem Rizvi, who had sought the
deletion of 26 verses from the Quran, which he
claimes are used as “justifications” by Islamist
terrorist groups for attacks on “non-believers”. “It is
an absolutely frivolous petition,” a bench, headed by
justice Rohinton F Nariman, said. Rizvi submitted
that the focus of the petition was the indoctrination
of children in madrasas, which had been engaged in
imparting “literal interpretation” of the Quran. →P6

{ A MILESTONE IN THE SKY }

60 YEARS SINCE FIRST HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT

On April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space, opening
e
up a previously uncharted territory for travel and exploration, and rocketing the Soviet
Union ahead in its space race with the United States

REUTERS
108 40,868 357 MIN KM KM

Covid-19: What
FLIGHT TIME DISTANCE TRAVELLED MAXIMUM ALTITUDE

THE MAN

you need to
l Sixty years ago, Yuri
Alekseyevich Gagarin took off on
the Vostok-1 capsule from the braking
Baikonur Cosmodrome in Nose cones VOSTOK-1
southern Kazakhstan, part of the are released SPACECRAFT Descent
erstwhile Soviet Union capsule
l Gagarin, born to a family of separates

know today
Russian farmers in 1934, learnt to BEGINS
fly planes at a local flying club ORBIT
Separation Window
when he was 16, and was DESCENT RETURN TO
accepted into the Soviet Air of rocket (RE-ENTRY) EARTH’S
stages and capsule Ejector seat ATMOSPHERE
Force in 1957 the equipped
l He was drafted into the Soviet spacecraft with a heat 7 km from
space programme in 1960, and shield Earth,
won an internal competition to Gagarin ejects
become the Soviet Union’s first Oxygen and from the
nitrogen descent
R Sukumar Cosmonaut

I
PROPULSION tanks capsule
n the seven days to Sunday night, India added an average of AND CONTROL
MODULE
133,918 coronavirus disease cases a day. India has overtaken
Brazil to the second spot in terms of overall cases (since the
THE IMPLICATIONS jettisoned
Parachutes
open n HT’s news clippings above highlight Yuri Gagarin’s return from
l Gagarin became a national on re-entry
the space mission and his subsequent visit to India
start of the pandemic), and is surging ahead. It is also the hero, hailed by Soviet leader
country that’s adding the most cases a day right now. The cur- Nikita Khrushchev and greeted
rent weekly average national positivity rate (based on Sun- by enthusiastic crowds THE FLIGHT AND THE FAME
day’s number) is 9.9%, and rising – far higher than the 5% (and l His flight gave the Soviet Union l As the Soviet programme raced to beat the Americans, it suffered a series
declining) level which indicates that things are getting better. a significant lead in the space The first YURI GAGARIN, of failures in 1960, including a launchpad explosion that killed 126 people
Nor is the problem solely with Maharashtra, although that state race, much to the United stage
breaks
THE FIRST MAN l Gagarin and Soviet officials were prepared for the worst. No safety
remains an outlier in terms of both cases and deaths (3.4 million
States’ chagrin
l Then US President John F away IN SPACE system had been installed to save the cosmonaut in case of another
rocket explosion at blast-off or after
cases and 57,987 deaths in all; 63,924 cases and 349 deaths on Sun- Kennedy tasked authorities April 12 1961, the Soviet cosmonaut
day). On Sunday, 63% of India’s 170,100 cases came from states and with ensuring the country did opened up space to human exploration Two days before blast-off, 27-year-old Gagarin wrote a
Union territories other than Maharashtra. Based on Sunday’s num- not fall behind the Soviets in farewell letter to his wife, sharing his pride but also trying
bers, nine states and Union territories are seeing their highest num- the race. The country launched to console her in the event of his death
bers (seven-day averages) ever in terms of cases, with two more a human spaceflight of their l Eventually, Gagarin took off on April 12 at 0607 hours GMT, travelling
likely to join the list soon; five have average positivity rates in excess own on May 5, 1961, weeks 40,868km in 108 minutes, before the descent capsule returned
after Gagarin’s flight
of 10%, and 18 in excess of 5%. India is now seeing a surging second l As the capsule re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere, he saw flames outside
l Gagarin was killed in a training The recovery his spacecraft and prepared to die. “I’m burning. Goodbye, comrades,” he
wave, much like the ones the US and Brazil did. jet crash in on March 27, 1968 capsule touches told the command centre. What he didn’t know was that the flamers
India is currently vaccinating 3.4 million people on average a day down separately were a cloud of plasma engulfing Vostok-1 during its re-entry
(based on a 7-day average till Sunday night). Over the weekend, it
crossed the 100-million mark in terms of vaccine doses adminis-
tered (and was the fastest to do so across countries that have
reached the milestone). That number breaks down into 12.9 million
people who have received both doses of vaccines,
{ BRITISH ACADEMY } ROAD TO THE OSCARS
Can’t deny citizenship
and 78.5 million who have received one. At least
nine of every 10 people receiving a vaccine have
been administered Covishield, the Indian version It’s a Nomadland sweep for failure to explain
as women rule at Baftas
of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine. Even those
who receive one shot of the vaccine get significant
protection from severe infection and death, so
over 91 million Indians can be considered safe –
link with a relative: HC
although some of them can still be infected, and Utpal Parashar rectness of the entry of the

2ND WAVE
many may still be able to transmit the virus to oth-
ers. HT’s calculations show that by the end of July,
Agence France-Presse Closing the (gender) gap utpal.parashar@htlive.com
names of the grandparents in
the voters list, when the correct-
WORSENING India is likely to have administered two doses to letters@hindustantimes.com With four women nominated for Best Director, the ceremony GUWAHATI: Not explaining ness of the entry of the names of
Based on Sunday’s 244 million people, and one dose to 290 million was in contrast with 2020 when it had no women on the list links to some relatives shouldn’t the petitioner’s father and
numbers, nine states and more. That’s a significant number. The question LONDON: The US road movie adversely affect individuals’ grandfather was not ques-
Union territories are seeing is, will we have to wait till July to see off the sec- “Nomadland” triumphed at the DIET BAFTA claim to citizenship or be tioned,” the court said in its
WOMAN The socially
their highest numbers ond wave? That may not be required because of Bafta film awards on Sunday, POWER grounds to declare them for- order passed on March 30 but
distanced event
(seven-day averages) ever non-pharmaceutical interventions (or NPIs as with Chinese director Chloe Chloe Zhao: eigners, the Gauhati high court made public on Monday.
saw winners
in terms of cases, with two people have begun terming them) such as the Zhao’s intimate portrayal of Best director, accepting the ruled, overturning a controver- In 2019, a foreigners’ tribunal
more likely to join the list wearing of masks, the washing of hands, and, marginalised Americans win- Best film awards on video sial 2019 foreigners tribunal in Barpeta district termed
soon; five have average most importantly, social distancing (the one thing ning in four categories including [Nomadland] calls order in Assam. Haider Ali an illegal immigrant
positivity rates in excess of all of India, the governors and the governed, for- best film, best actress and best According to the 1985 Assam and declared him a foreigner.
10%, and 18 in excess of 5%. got). The calculation is rendered further complex director. EMERALD FENNELL: INDIAN LEGENDS Accord, anyone staying in the Ali, 33, submitted docu-
India is now seeing a by the extent of those infected in the first wave of The socially distanced and Outstanding British film, original REMEMBERED state prior to March 24, 1971 or ments showing names of his
surging second wave, much the coronavirus disease (till early February), as largely remote awards ceremony screenplay [Promising Young Indian stars Irrfan Khan and with verifiable lineage to people grandparents in voters’ lists of
like the ones the US and estimated through so-called seroprevalence (or in London saw a strong showing Woman] Rishi Kapoor, who died in April residing in the state on or before 1965 and 1970, copies of voters
Brazil did. antibody) tests on a sample of the population. Sur- by women directors in the 2020, were among the that is an Indian citizen—a list of 1989 showing his parents
veys have put this number as high as 50% in some run-up to this month’s Oscars. Bukky Bakray: EE Rising Star individuals honoured at the requirement also accepted for names as well as certified copies
regions, and research has clearly established that The British academy has award [Rocks] “in memoriam” segment inclusion in the National Regis- of subsequent voters’ lists show-
the immunity that prior infections (even sympto- sought to improve diversity and ter of Citizens (NRC) . ing his name along with those of
matic ones) provide – this is called natural immu- Zhao was one of four women BIG WINNERS In August 2019, nearly 1.9 his parents. The tribunal didn’t
nity – can last for at least six months. nominated for “best director”. Best film: Best actress: Best actor: Sir Anthony million people were excluded rebut the admissibility of these
How soon a region gets the second wave under “We brought in changes to the Nomadland Frances McDormand Hopkins [The Father] from NRC for failing to prove documents and also didn’t
control, then, is a function of several factors: awards to level the playing field”, their or ancestors’ residency in reject them, but based on evi-
extent of prior infections; progress of the vaccina- said Krishnendu Majumdar, Assam before the cutoff date. dence on record, it held that Ali
tion drive; adherence to Covid-safety protocol; the chair of the academy, following men who prey on her. Fennell frontrunners for this month’s Those declared foreigners by was not able to prove himself
scope of restrictions imposed by local, regional, criticism over last year’s awards described the film as a “labour of Oscar awards, with six nomina- foreigners’ tribunals (as well an Indian under section 9 of the
and federal administrators; and, especially in the ceremony which had no women love”. “It was the greatest thing tions including for best picture, their relatives) were also left Foreigners Act, and declared
case of well-connected metros and large cities directors and an all-white short- in my life making this film,” she best director and best actress. out. Foreigners tribunals are him a foreigner. The tribunal
such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, the net- THE COVID BATTLE list. Zhao welcomed stronger said. The film is nominated for Welsh actor Sir Anthony Hop- quasi-judicial courts set up to said that Ali did not mention his
work effect where movement of people into and HT’s calculations show representation for women film- Oscars for best director and best kins won the best actor Bafta for hear citizenship claims of peo- relationship to five other per-
out of the city on a regular (almost daily) basis that by the end of July, makers in comments to journal- original screenplay, while Mulli- “The Father” about a man suffer- ple flagged by state and election sons, whose names appeared
affects both infection and dispersal rates. India is likely to have ists afterwards, saying: “It’s gan is nominated for best ing from dementia, directed by officials as possible outsiders. along with grandparents in the
NPIs have several side-effects, too – the most administered two doses to about time, it’s great.” actress. France’s Florian Zeller. The court junked a tribunal copies of voters list of 1970 sub-
dangerous being the impact they have on the 244 million people, and “I love doing what I do and if Zhao accepted Nomadland’s The socially distanced cere- order that declared an Assam mitted by him, and that, as a
economy. Already, those put in place to combat one dose to 290 million this means more people like me multiple awards dressed casu- mony was held at London’s resident a foreigner because he result, he was a foreigner.
the second wave of the pandemic in India have more. That’s a significant get to live their dreams, I’m very ally in a plaid shirt from Los Royal Albert Hall with awards didn’t explain his lineage thor- Ali challenged the order in
seen the Nomura India Business Resumption number. The question is, grateful”. Angeles, saying that she planned presented to an empty audito- oughly enough and did not elab- Gauhati HC in 2019. In an order
Index, a measure of where business activities are will we have to wait till British director Emerald Fen- to start the day with celebra- rium. The winning actors and orate his relationship with some issued on March 30, a division
when compared to pre-pandemic levels, fall to July to see off the second nell also carried off two awards tions. “Tomorrow morning, I film-makers mostly decked out relatives of his mentioned in bench of justice N Kotishwar
90.7 on April 4, a level last seen in the third week wave? That may not be for her debut feature, “Promis- will be very hungover,” she said. in dinner jackets and evening the same voters list of 1970 that Singh and Justice Manish
of December, after peaking at 99.3 in February. required because of ing Young Woman” starring The film’s star Frances dresses accepted awards on mentioned his grandparents. Chowdhury held the tribunal’s
Which is probably why the Union government non-pharmaceutical Carey Mulligan. The Oscar- McDormand won for best lead- video calls from their living “Non explanation of the rela- order as wrong. “Non-explana-
and state governments have to review their under- interventions tipped thriller is about a woman ing actress and sent a written rooms and hotels. One of the tionship of the petitioner with tion of the linkage of the peti-
standing of what is important and what isn’t. who avenges a friend’s rape by message saying: “Thank you, award presenters, comedian other persons mentioned in the tioner with others...does not
pretending to be drunk in bars dear British people.” Youssef Kerkour, described the voters list of 1970 cannot be a affect the credibility or genuine-
and then turning the tables on “Nomadland” is one of the ceremony as “diet Bafta”. ground for disbelieving the cor- ness of the evidence,” it ruled.