Date with Da Vinci may be put off

People who read this also read:

Debate: Should Da Vinci Code be banned?

With barely three days left before the movie hits cinema halls across the globe, the Indian chapter has run into some turbulence.

• Bishops virtually oppose Da Vinci Code

Featured Blog

Sagarika Ghose

City of dreadful knights

Featured Slideshows

Ads by Google

New Delhi: The Da Vinci Code has run into its fair share of controversies with the Vatican calling for a ban on the film.

With barely three days left before the movie hits cinema halls across the globe, the Indian chapter has run into some turbulence.

The Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry in the country has said that clearance will not be given to the movie till it is screened before the Catholic Churches' Association of India (CCAI).

Trouble had started brewing when over 200 Catholic organisations had submitted a petition against the screening of the film to I&B Minister, Priyaranjan Dasmunsi.

A ministry official has said that Dasmunsi will see the movie on Wednesday but will seek the opinion of CCAI before taking a decision on whether the movie can be released in India.

Speaking against the controversial film, Father Donald D'Souza of the Catholics Bishops Council said, "In a country where people are still learning about Christianity, such films can be quite harmful. We don't want people to imbibe a wrong view of this religion in India."

Meanwhile, the Goa Government has passed a resolution to ban the movie and has also asked the Centre to impose a nationwide ban.

Goa Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane said on Tuesday that he would write to the Censor Board "either to censor or stop the release" of the controversial film in the state.

"The government has taken cognisance of a letter by an organisation named the Catholic Association of Goa, which feared this movie would hurt the sentiments of Christians," Rane said after chairing a meeting of the state cabinet.

"The association also attached a letter written by the Archbishop of Goa and Daman, Rev Fr Filip Nery Ferrao, to parishioners asking them to refrain from viewing this movie," Rane said.

He said it is not within the state cabinet's purview to ban the film from being screened in Goa.

"The issue figured in the cabinet meeting when the Chief Secretary placed the letter sent by the association. Cabinet members felt the movie would hurt sentiments of a large chunk of the community," he said.

Rane, who is also the Minister of Home for state, ruled out security measures for cinema halls that plan to screen the film.

"There is no question of protection as it is for theatre owners to decide," he said.

The Da Vinci Code, which is scheduled for release in India on May 19, has been opposed by Christian groups in other parts of the country as well.

(With inputs from PTI)