The IMA in its letter also proposed a limited period continuous lockdown of non-essential areas such as cinema, cultural and religious events, sports, etc.
PM Modi waited for the second phase of vaccination to begin as while he is a senior citizen, the first phase of vaccination was for frontline workers, like doctors, nurses and others who are more vulnerable to catching the virus.
In the 'lifting slippers' remark, PM Modi was probably referring to an incident in 2015 when Rahul Gandhi was touring a flood-hit Puducherry and Narayanasamy was seen holding his slippers.