Home Minister Rajnath Singh administers pledge to mark anti-terrorism day

NEW DELHI: Home Minister Rajnath Singh today administered the pledge to the officials of the Ministries of Home and Personnel on the occasion of anti-terrorism day, the death anniversary of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

The day is observed to generate awareness in the country among all sections of people about the danger of terrorism and violence and its effect on the people, society and the country.

The objective behind the observance of anti-terrorism day is to wean away the people from terrorism and violence, an official statement said.

On the occasion, debates, discussions, symposia, seminars, lectures, etc. are also held in schools, colleges and universities on the dangers of terrorism and violence.

Many NGOs, social and cultural organisations also organise their own programmes to highlight the ill effects of violence and terrorism.

Anti-terrorism and anti-violence pledge is taken in all government offices, public sector undertakings and other public institutions.

Anti-terrorism day is observed every year throughout the country on May 21, the death anniversary of late Rajiv Gandhi.

Last week, the Narendra Modi government had issued a directive asking all states, union territories and central ministries to observe the day in a "befitting" manner to commemorate the death anniversary of the former Prime Minister.

Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991, by LTTE cadres in a suicide bombing attack at a rally at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu.

This was for the first anti-terrorism day observed since the NDA government came to power last year. The observances were toned down in 2014 event with the new government being sworn-in only on May 26.

Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh and Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju were present on the occasion which was held in the North Block here.