The Animal Welfare Board of India under Ministry of Animal Husbandry of India has called for observing February 14 as Cow Hug Day since, as it puts it, cow is the backbone of Indian culture and hugging with cow will bring emotional richness and increase individual happiness. It is not difficult to see that Feb 14 has been chosen for cow hugging since Valentine's Day falls on that day and it is linked by some people to western culture.
It is not known how many people especially those who don't have cows will hug them since stray cows will not allow strangers to touch them. What about the happiness and welfare of cows? The so called stray cows and cattle are not really stray. They are owned by people who, in order to save trouble and money, are let loose during the day for grazing, eating thrash, wondering and squatting on the roads and causing road accidents resulting in loss of life both of humans and animals. Is this our love for cows ?
