NEW DELHI: The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) on Friday retracted its call for February 14 to be observed as “Cow Hug Day” amid criticism from various sources, including netizens and other animal rights organizations. The board claimed that it was doing so at the government’s request.

S K Dutta, the Board’s secretary, said that the appeal issued by the AWBI for the celebration of Cow Hug Day on February 14 stands withdrawn as directed by the competent authority and ministry of fisheries, animal husbandry, and dairying, in the withdrawal order posted on the AWBI’s website.

The Board, a statutory advisory body on animal welfare laws, made an appeal to cow lovers on February 6 to observe February 14—Valentine’s Day—as “Cow Hug Day,” adding that Vedic customs are in danger of extinction due to the development of western culture over time.

“In view of the immense benefit of the cow, hugging a cow will bring emotional richness and hence will increase our individual & collective happiness. Therefore, all the cow lovers may also celebrate February 14 as ‘Cow Hug day’ keeping in mind the importance of mother cows and making life happy and full of positive energy,” said the Board in its general appeal, issued on Monday.

Such an appeal to cow lovers was issued for the first time by the Board and it had not planned any special event around it on the occasion due to paucity of time this year, AWBI’s Assistant Secretary, Prachi Jain, told India Media. She had then also said the Board may plan some events around it from next year onwards.

The Board in its appeal on February 6 said, “We all know that the cow is the backbone of Indian culture and rural economy, sustains our life, represents 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 Board, established in 1962, provides grants to Animal Welfare Organizations and advises the central government on animal welfare issues.