Following widespread criticism on social media and government directives, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) on Friday withdrew its appeal to celebrate February 14, as "Cow Hugging Day". A day after Union Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Minister Sri Purushottam Rupala's remarks, the board's secretary SK Dutta withdrew the appeal through a notice posted on its website.
Rupala said that it would have been better if people had responded positively to the board's appeal to celebrate February 14 as 'Cow Hug Day'. February 14 is celebrated as Valentine's Day across the Globe . This was the first time that AWBI had appealed to the cow lovers in the country to celebrate 'Cow Hug Day'. Earlier the board had said that India's Vedic traditions were on the verge of extinction due to the influence of western culture.
