GUWAHATI: Assam finance minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma said that he will drop Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 if anti talk ULFA ’s leader Paresh Baruah joins the mainstream.Assam police has found that banned militant outfit, Anti talk faction of ULFA is using the public sentiment against the Citizenship (Amendment) bill 2016 to bolster its cadre strength.Sarma said, “I want to ask Paresh Baruah will he and other youths will join the mainstream if the proposed bill is scrapped. ” The minister added that vested interest groups are trying to create an impression that several youths have gone to anti talk ULFA due to the bill.Sarma questioned, “Did not anyone join ULFA before the bill. Reasons including economic and lack of proper job opportunity could be the reason for youths joining Ulfa, but not because of the bill. We admit that we have to do a lot in terms of creating sufficient employment opportunities. If unrest is created over the bill development work imitated by government will be hampered.”Paresh Baruah accepted the challenge, talking to a local television he said, “We are ready to discuss with Centre if sovereignty is made the issue of discussion, I urge Sarma to prevail upon the Centre and make sovereignty the issue of discussion. We will make Sarma Prime minister of Independent Assam.”Baruah had earlier opposed the bill. The bill aimed at making minority communities such as Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan eligible for applying for Indian citizenship is under the consideration of Joint parliamentary committee of both the Houses.Several organisations including BJP’s ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) are opposing the bill. The organisations fear that there will be influx of migrants from Bangladesh if the bill is implemented.Sarma said that several Assamese youths lost their lives after joining the outfit. “It is unfortunate that some sections are trying to create an atmosphere of the 1990s with the bill.”The minister said that AGP has no moral right to oppose the bill. “They accepted March 24, 1971 as cut-off date instead of 1951 and Assam had to shoulder extra burden of foreigners.” All Assam Students Union from 1979-1985 led anti foreigners movement which culminated in signing of Assam accord in 1985 and later political party AGP was formed.Sarma said like Akali Dal, BJP wanted long term relationship with AGP however AGP is not living upto the spirit of alliance. Both AGP and BJP are fighting panchayat polls separately.