MDMK general secretary Vaiko said on Wednesday that the Union government cannot cheat the people by boasting about itself in the President’s customary address to Parliament.
Referring to a mention about the Indian economy in the President’s address, which said it was on an upward trajectory and among the fastest-growing economies in the world, Mr. Vaiko pointed out that the International Monetary Fund had assigned a ‘C’ grade to India’s national account statistics. He added that the value of the Indian rupee was falling against the U.S. dollar.
The President’s address also said the Centre was pursuing a path of inclusive growth with emphasis on the backward classes. However, statistics from the recently released World Inequality Report 2026 revealed only 10% of India’s population earned approximately 58% of the country’s total income, the MDMK leader said.
He said inequality was not limited to income alone and that the gap in wealth was even deeper. The richest 10% in India owned approximately 65% of the country’s total wealth, 40% of which was owned by the top 1% alone. While the ground reality was different, the Modi government was boasting about inclusive growth in the President’s address, Mr. Vaiko said.
He also said violence against Dalits and religious minorities had increased over the last 10 years. The rights of States were being taken away and independent agencies were forced to function like puppets of the BJP government, he said.
Published – January 29, 2026 12:25 am IST
