Anti Terrorism Day 2022
Every year on May 21, India commemorates National Anti-Terrorism Day. It was on 21 May 1991 that former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated. Since then, our country has been the target of several similar incidents, in which many people were killed.
It aims to lift awareness about terrorism and violence and therefore the way it affects the Indian citizens. It also aims to create awareness about the effects of terrorism in the society. Last year, the MHA had proposed that officials take the ‘Anti-Terrorism Pledge’ in their rooms/offices to avoid public gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
History of Anti Terrorism Day ?
On May 21, 1991, the official announcement was made following the assassination of India’s former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was the mastermind behind the killing of Rajiv Gandhi in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu.
After the assassination, the V.P. Singh government decided to observe May 21 as Anti-Terrorism Day. On this day, a pledge is taken in all government offices, public undertakings, and other public institutions.
How Anti-Terrorism Day 2022 is Observed in India?
This year, the day is falling on Saturday which is a closed holiday for Central Government offices. Therefore, to avoid inconvenience to the employees who travel a long distance to come to the office on Saturday, Ministry of Home Affairs decided that the “pledge taking ceremony” in the offices of the Central Government would be held on Friday.
However, if Saturday is not a holiday for the State or UT government, then the ‘pledge taking ceremony’ will be held on May 21, 2022.
It is also mentioned in the order of MHA that, in order to protect the participants’ and organizers’ safety and to avoid public gatherings, officials may be advised to take the pledge solemnly in their rooms or offices.
Also, considering the importance of the occasion, various ways to propagate the message of anti-terrorism will be propagated using different mediums including digital and social media platforms.
