NDA govt took several measures to help middle class: Modi

: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday asserted that the NDA government had taken various measures for the middle class, the benefits of which were already visible.

Addressing a rally here, Modi said inflation had been contained and measures like reduction in interest rates of home loans and increase in the income tax exemption level had all benefitted the middle class.

"Today is April 1, the beginning of the new financial year and the interest exemption of Rs five lakh announced in the budget will come into effect," Modi said amidst applause from the crowd.

He said after the NDA regime under Atal Behari Vajpayee, it was his government that had the privilege of bringing prices under check after the erstwhile Congress government had failed in this direction.

"Home loan interest rates have become less...the EMI has become less .... the Pradhan Mantri Aawaas Yojana has enabled the middle class to have access to cheaper homes," Modi said.

Had not the NDA government taken these anti-inflationary measures, the kitchen budgets of households would have gone out of control, the Prime Minister said.

Among other things, health bills, electricity bills, and mobile bills have become cheaper, he said.