Bhubaneswar, May 21: Today is the Anti-Terrorism Day. India observes Anti-Terrorism Day on May 21. It was on this day in 1991 that the seventh Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by LTTE terrorists while campaigning for the Congress party at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu. The day is marked to spread the message of peace and harmony across the country leaving the bloodsheds of the terrorists at bay.

In an unprecedented incident,Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a suicide bomber while he was campaigning for the Congress party in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu. After the brutal assassination, the Home Ministry, government of India decided that May 21 will be observed as Anti-Terrorism Day to raise awareness among people about terrorism. Rajiv Gandhi was the youngest Prime Minister of India when he was sworn in at the age of 40.

Since then the day is an opportunity to honour the sacrifices of thousands of security personnel in the fight against terrorism, it is also a reminder that terrorism is still a massive threat to unity and peace in the country. Several government and social organisations plan events on this day to foster unity and national pride in the people. They also educate people on how to act as a force multiplier of the security forces in dealing with terrorism.

It is why a pledge with, “We, the people of India, having abiding faith in our country’s tradition of non-violence and tolerance, hereby solemnly affirm to oppose with our strength, all forms of terrorism and violence. We pledge to uphold and promote peace, social harmony, and understand among all fellow human beings and fight the forces of disruption threatening human lives and values”, has been solemnized among the soldiers, NCC cadets, Police, paramilitary forces and the students to do away with the way of violence in the human society.