Assam Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Manab Deka on Monday attributed the recent devastating floods across several parts of Assam to extreme rainfall — recording between 400 and 500 per cent above normal levels — rather than the typical riverine overflow that has historically caused monsoon flooding in the state. Deka made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Guwahati.

Unprecedented Rainfall Behind the Floods

Deka said the floods were markedly different from previous monsoon disasters in that they inundated areas traditionally considered safe from flooding due to their elevated terrain. 'The affected areas are traditionally regarded as flood-safe because they are located on higher ground. However, this time the rainfall was unprecedented, reaching nearly 400 to 500 per cent above normal levels, which resulted in extensive flooding,' he claimed.

The BJP MLA noted that the disaster claimed several lives and caused significant damage to property. 'The disaster claimed several lives and caused significant damage to property, which is deeply unfortunate,' he added. He also acknowledged the community solidarity shown during the crisis, saying citizens from different sections of society stepped forward with relief efforts and humanitarian support.

Political Row Over Student Protest Remarks

Deka also addressed the political controversy surrounding Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's remarks regarding the participation of Agriculture Minister Keshab Mahanta's daughter in a recent student protest in New Delhi. He maintained that every citizen in a democracy holds the constitutional right to express dissent peacefully, while stressing that public demonstrations must be conducted responsibly and within the bounds of decency.

Referring to slogans allegedly raised against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the protest, Deka said abusive or derogatory language had no place in democratic discourse — a remark that underscores the BJP's effort to draw a line between legitimate protest and what it characterises as unacceptable rhetoric.

BJP MLA Backs Nandan Nilekani-Led Exam Reform Panel

On the Centre's decision to constitute a high-powered task force on examination reforms under Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, Deka welcomed the move, describing Nilekani as a visionary administrator with a proven track record in building large-scale digital public infrastructure. He pointed to Nilekani's contributions through initiatives such as Aadhaar and digital payment systems as evidence of his capacity to implement transformational reforms.

Deka expressed confidence that the newly constituted panel was well-positioned to recommend measures making the examination system more transparent, efficient, and student-friendly.

Support for Tougher Anti-Malpractice Laws

The BJP legislator also backed proposed amendments to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, arguing that stronger legal provisions against examination malpractice would act as a significant deterrent and help protect the credibility of competitive examinations across the country. This comes amid heightened national scrutiny of examination integrity following controversies over question paper leaks in recent months.

With Assam still assessing flood damage and the Centre's exam reform framework taking shape, both issues are expected to remain in focus through the remainder of the monsoon session.