After 21 years, Maharashtra govt observes May 21 as anti-terrorism day

21 years after the central government had declared May 21 as Anti-Terrorism Day, following the assassination of former PM Rajiv Gandhi on this day, the Maharashtra government has finally issued an official circular to observe this day. 

RTI activist and director of the NGO Athak Seva Sangh, Anil Galgali, told  "I am surprised that the Maharashtra state has finally woken up after 21 long years to observe May 21 as Anti-Terrorism Day. The government circular to this effect was issued on May 16 this year. Why was it not done in the previous years?" 

Rajiv Gandhi was killed by a human bomb on May 21, 1991. So, the very next year (1992) the central government had started observing it as Anti-Terrorism Day. 

The Union ministry of home affairs has written to chief secretaries of all states to observe May 21 as anti-terrorism day. "The objective behind observance of this day is to wean away the youth from terrorism and the cult of violence by highlighting the sufferings of common people and showing as to how it is prejudicial to the national interest," says the letter dated May 8, signed by joint secretary Bhagwan Shankar. After this warning-cum-suggestion letter, government of Maharashtra, Home Department under secretary, Sudhakar Ramchandra Chavan, issued the circular this year on 16 May 2013.

"I would like to know why the state government has delayed observing this important day for over two decades, and also what steps the state is taking to effectively counter the frequent and mindless terrorism attacks and explosions that kill hundreds of innocent people," added Galgali. 

He has also sent a copy of his query to the offices of President of India and Prime Minister of India.