New Delhi: Recent attacks on churches in India were ordinary acts of crime but they were given communal color to malign the federal government, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said Saturday.

He, however, regretted the communal and inflammatory speeches made by ruling party members, including federal Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti.

Talking to Times Now, Jaitley said an analyses of the much publicized attack on churches showed that these were just cases of ”ordinary crime. ”

Moreover, People arrested in these cases belonged to all communities, he added.

The result of these incidents being projected as special targeting of Christian places of worship was that Indias image was affected.

On why the government was not able to control the ruling party MPs and ministers from inciting communal passion and hatred by their speeches, Jaitley said the party and the government have talked with them. Jyoti also openly admitted her mistake, he added.