Indian government asks people to hug cows on Valentine’s Day

NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s government-run animal welfare department has appealed to citizens to mark Valentine’s Day this year not as a celebration of romance but as “Cow Hug Day” to better promote Hindu values. Devout Hindus, who worship cows as holy, say the Western holiday goes against traditional Indian values. In recent years, Hindu hardliners have raided shops in Indian cities, burned cards and gifts, and chased hand-holding couples out of restaurants and parks, saying that Valentine’s Day promotes promiscuity. Hardline political groups say such actions pave the way to reassert Hindu identity. Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, a political analyst, said the government’s message is “absolutely crazy. It defies logic.”