February 14 is not Cow Hug Day anymore. TBH, still don't know who thought it was a good idea
After the huge uproar over the Animal Welfare Board of India declaring February 14, traditionally celebrated as Valentine's Day, as 'Cow Hug Day', the board has withdrawn the appeal.
"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the appeal issued by the Animal Welfare Board of India for celebration of Cow Hug Day of February 14th, 2023 stands withdrawn," said the board in a statement on Friday (February 10).
In an appeal on Wednesday (February 8), the Animal Welfare Board backed up its advice on hugging a cow on Valentine's Day. The board had said that it would bring "emotional richness" and increase "individual and collective happiness".
The Animal Welfare Board comes under the Animal Husbandry Ministry, headed by the BJP leader Parshottam Rupala.
The decision led to a lot of memes and jokes on social media.
Mocked by the Opposition: The Shiv Sena on Friday mocked Cow Hug Day and took a swipe at PM Narendra Modi and said that businessman Gautam Adani was a "holy cow" for the Prime Minister.
TMC's Santunu Sen said that Cow Hug Day is pseudo-Hinduism and pseudo-Patriotism to divert attention from mainstream issues. CPI(Marxist)'s Elamaram Kareem called Cow Hug Day a "ridiculous" concept and a shame to the country.