West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took a dig at the Central government’s notification urging people to celebrate Cow Hug Day on Valentine’s Day and asked what if the cow hugs people.
Her reaction came after Animal Welfare Board of India issued a notification urging people to celebrate Cow Hug Day on February 14 – a day widely celebrated as Valentine’s Day. However, the notification was later withdrawn.
In a fresh notice, the advisory body said, “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the appeal issued by the Animal Welfare Board of India for the celebration of Cow Hug Day on 14th February, 2023 stands withdrawn.”
Mocking the notification, Mamata Banerjee wondered what would happen if the cow hits the person.
“If the cow hits us, what will happen? Will they (BJP) pay us compensation,” she asked
Cow Hug Day row
The previous notification read, “We all know that the Cow is the backbone of Indian culture and rural economy, sustains our life, represent cattle wealth and biodiversity. It is known as ‘Kamdhenu’ and ‘Gaumata’ because of its nourishing nature like mother, the giver of all providing riches to humanity.”
The letter went on to say that hugging a cow will bring ’emotional richness’ which will increase our ‘individual and collective happiness’. Towards the end, it urged ‘cow lovers’ to celebrated Valentine’s Day as Cow Hug Day.
The notification was mocked by Opposition and was later withdrawn. The appeal had however received backing of several BJP leaders, including Union minister Giriraj Singh who said everyone should love cows.
When asked about the advisory, issued on the direction of the department of animal husbandry and dairying, Giriraj Singh, rural development minister in the Narendra Modi-led government, said, “It is a good initiative.”
