Leader of Opposition in Assam Assembly Debabrata Saikia on Monday sought from Prime Minister Narendra Modi a central package of at least Rs 20,000 crore for relief and rehabilitation work in areas that suffered damage due to flood over the last three to four years. He urged the Centre to declare the problem of flood and erosion in the state, which has already claimed more than 70 lives this year, as a national calamity. In a letter to Modi, Saikia reminded him that assurances were given by BJP leaders to make Assam a "flood- free" state if voted to power, and "the saffron party has since 2016 won the people's mandate twice in this northeastern state".