Hug your own Valentine: Animal Welfare board revokes its circular on ‘Cow Hug Day’

“As directed by the Competent Authority and Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, the appeal issued by the Animal Welfare Board of India for the celebration of Cow Hug Day on 14th February, 2023 stands withdrawn [sic],” the board’s secretary SK Dutta said in a notice posted on its website.

Earlier, the board had said the appeal was being made because vedic traditions were almost on the “verge of extinction” due to the progress of western culture.

Union minister supported the day

On Thursday, Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala said it would be good if people responded positively to the call given by the AWBI to celebrate 14 February as “Cow Hug Day”.

Rupala said that not much should be read into the choice of 14 February as a date for this purpose.

“This country has an age-old tradition of worshipping the cow, and it is a matter of great happiness that people embrace the cow It is good if people respond positively to our appeal,” the minister told reporters.

Since 14 February was a day of love, it would be good if people remembered and loved the cow on that day. “And if someone taunts on this, then one should not feel angry but feel pity…,” he said.

The appeal issued by the Animal Welfare Board of India for celebration of #CowHugDay on February 14, 2023 stands withdrawn.

Bhakts: pic.twitter.com/ToZMCkUshg

— Ashish Bagchi (@BagchiAsh) February 10, 2023

Related: This is how Kerala plans to celebrate ‘Cow Hug Day’ 

Social media reacts

The notice put up earlier by the board to celebrate “Cow Hug Day” drew widespread criticism and ridicule from across the country, but support from the ruling party.

#CowHugDay வ திரும்பப்பெற்றது விலங்குகள் நலவாரியம்… அப்பாடா தப்பிசேன் 😅😅 pic.twitter.com/1wJoclWGYu

— black cat (@Cat__offi) February 10, 2023

Kerala Minister V Sivankutty posted a video clip from a movie ridiculing the decision, while the state’s Minister of Animal Husbandry Chinchu Rani posted a picture of her holding a calf.

Kerala BJP chief K Surendran welcomed the letter, saying that cows do more good than the Left government.

Social media was flooded with memes opposing, supporting and ridiculing the Central government body’s decision.

(With inputs from PTI)