File picture of a copy of Dan Brown?s The Da Vinci Code being burnt in Mumbai

Kohima, May 23: It has taken three years and a raging controversy over Ron Howard?s celluloid adaptation of Dan Brown?s The Da Vinci Code to awaken the Nagaland government to the allegedly blasphemous references to Jesus in the book.

As a result, the cabinet last night decided to prevent the book from being ?sold, distributed and read? in the state.

Issuing what resembled a papal decree after a prolonged cabinet meeting on the issue, the government expressed ?resentment? over the UPA government?s ?failure? to ban the film based on the book in India. It said the decision to ban Brown?s book ? on bestseller lists worldwide since 2003 ? was based on the ?blasphemous and offensive content of Ron Howard?s film The Da Vinci Code, portraying Jesus Christ and the Christian faith in a highly objectionable manner, thereby severely hurting the feelings and sentiments of the Christian community?.

Education minister Imkong L. Imchen pointed out that the book had been banned ?because the state is empowered to do so under entry 39 in the Concurrent List?. The minister, however, admitted that he had not read the book, leave alone watch the film.

The Neiphiu Rio government intends to move Delhi for a ban on the film at least ?in the state of Nagaland in a limited manner?.

Even if the film is cleared, Kohima does not have any theatre to screen it. Only the state?s commercial hub, Dimapur, has a couple of halls.

The government has already issued ?an advisory? to all theatres, video parlours and cable operators.

?This advisory is being issued in public interest for maintaining calm and tranquillity in the state of Nagaland, largely populated by Christians, as well as to protect their feelings and sentiments from being hurt,? it states.

Deputy commissioners of all districts have been asked to implement the ban on the book and adhere to the advisory.

Although Nagaland is predominantly Christian, only two per cent of its population is affiliated to the Orthodox Church.

Zhabu Terhuja of the Nagaland Baptist Churches Council and Nagaland Christian Forum said ?a distorted image of Christianity on screen can cause real damage?.

In neighbouring Mizoram, however, the Christian-dominated population was unperturbed by the controversy over either the book or the film. Christian scholar Rev. Chuauthuama said he had read Brown?s book and found the story to be based on Gnostic beliefs.