Shillong, June 16: The Federation of Khasi Jaiñtia and Garo People (FKJGP), Hynñiewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) and the Ri Bhoi Youth Federation today backed the Khasi Students' Union (KSU) which is protesting against a railway project and asked the Meghalaya government to put on hold works for the Tetelia-Byrnihat line in the state.

The three organisations also warned chief minister Mukul Sangma not to incite people on the railway issue at the moment, because "influx is not a romance of the indigenous community".

To begin their protest, the organisations, who met at Mawlai here this evening, resolved to hold a sit-in at a parking lot near the additional secretariat here on June 21.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, FKJGP president Wellbirth Rani said the state government should put on hold work for the railway project in Ri Bhoi district until a strong mechanism to check influx is in place.

"We will also meet the government on this issue to assert pressure that the railway project should not be executed without putting in place proper mechanisms to address the influx problem," Rani said.

The three organisations maintained that construction of the project was being carried out with specific time frame for completion, but the state government has no timeline for coming up with comprehensive mechanisms to address the influx issue.

Rani said: "We have seen that even the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act, 2016, for verifying tenants in the state has not been implemented as the state government has not framed the rules till date. When we asked the deputy commissioners regarding the delay to implement the Act, we were told that the government has not framed the rules to implement the law. Similarly, the entry/exit points proposed to be set up in various locations for addressing influx problem in the state is taking its own time. We feared that anti-influx mechanisms would not be in place even after the construction of railway is completed. Therefore, we want the government to first implement strong mechanisms before the coming of railway."

On Mukul's suggestion to extend the rail line from Shillong to Sohra (Cherrapunjee) by designing a train ride for high-end tourism as well as for "romantic couples" holidaying in the hill state's tourist destinations, Rani termed the statement a "provocative" one.

"At this time, the chief minister is provoking by making such kind of statements and turned the concern over influx issue a joke," Rani said.

Sadon K. Blah, a leader of the HNYF, said the chief minister should understand that concerns over the influx issue are serious and the government should not play with it.

"Influx is not a romance of our indigenous community. Instead of joking with the issue, the chief minister should ensure that comprehensive mechanisms are in place before laying of train tracks," the HNYF leader said.