Acts of vandalism disturbing, says Jaitley

New Delhi, Oct 20 Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday said differences should be conveyed in a "restrained manner" and that the publicity of acts of vandalism was "disturbing" as it encourages people to follow suit.

His comments came after the recent spate of incidents of violence against Muslims across the country over rumours of consuming beef.

"It is possible that in a big country like India that there are divergent views. But there has to be a proper way of discussing and debating these views," he said at a press conference here.

Jaitley said that the "level of debate must be raised" rather than the use of vandalism.

"We all have to convey differences in a restrained manner..," he said.

"It is disturbing when these acts of vandalism are increasingly publicised. People are encouraged to use similar methods," he said.

Jaitley said there are some "sensitive issues" such as "the relationship between communities, Jammu and Kashmir and neighbouring countries. Everyone should be careful."

He said that no member of the Bharatiya Janata Party "resorted to such methods". 

"The party president has strongly taken it up. The prime minister conveyed his views, all of them have been spoken," he added, referring to party president Amit Shah, on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pulling up party leaders and parliament members for making controversial statements over beef consumption.