Meghalaya defers decision on 'The Da Vinci Code'

Shillong, May 30 (UNI) The Meghalaya government has deferred its decision on banning the controversial Hollywood blockbuster 'The Da Vinci Code' till Thursday, as it wanted to elicit views from the cross-section of society on the issue.

Though the General Administration Department (GAD) Minister H D R Lyngdoh and his officials watched the movie here this afternoon, the decision was reserved till Thursday.

''Though we have watched the movie today, we thought it appropriate to wait for two more days so that we can take into consideration the views of the cross-section of society,'' Mr Lyngdoh told reporters here after watching the movie.

The Deputy Commissioner of the East Khasi Hills district has been given the responsibility of submitting a report to the ministry after collecting views from the church leaders and other concerned parties.

''We will announce the decision on Thursday after reviewing the report to be submitted by the Deputy Commissioner,'' said the GAD minister.

Several prominent church leaders in Christian majority Meghalaya had demanded a ban on the film, even as the movie hit the theatres elsewhere in the country following the clearance from the Central government.

''We are against the film as its content is blasphemous,'' said Rev Dominic Jala, Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church.

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