Ranchi, March 7: Hindu Jagaran Manch, a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) outfit, today supported the amendments to the CNT and SPT acts and alleged that Cardinal Telesphore P Toppo was funding and fanning tribal protests against the move.

In a press statement, Suman, a senior RSS functionary and central organisational secretary (Jharkhand-Bihar) of Hindu Jagaran Manch, alleged that Manresa House, the Church's hostel for priests, was being used as a back office to create trouble and mislead tribals on issue.

The RSS outfit has so far maintained silence on the issue that has been on the boil since Saturday when the Cardinal and six other Church leaders met Governor Droupadi Murmu and asked her to ensure the amendments weren't ratified.

Toppo said the amendments would alienate tribals further and render them landless.

The Manch went all out today, accusing the Church of inciting violence.

"They are opposed to the amendments because churches in Jharkhand have been the biggest land grabber. The church brings preachers from outside to carry religious conversions among poor and deprived tribals," said Suman, who used to be a priest and was known as Robert Solomon before he joined the RSS in 1987.

"They grab tribal land in name of charity. When the state government started acting against illegal conversions, the Cardinal became nervous... he was now unsuccessfully trying to polarise (people ) using his men and organisations," Suman told The Telegraph.

The RSS outfit called Das as a brave and bold man for amending the tenancy laws and praised state BJP president Lakshman Gilua for "exposing the political agenda" of the missionaries.

"Unlike previous governments and politicians of Jharkhand, both have refused to bend before the powerful Church. The chief minister has understood the pain of Sarna tribals whose socio-religious survival is under threat because of the church," he said and accused the Church of pursuing a secret agenda.