'What if cow Hits us? Will BJP Give Compensation?': Mamata Banerjee Mocks Centre's 'Cow Hug Day' Appeal

'Cow Hug Day': The Animal Welfare Board of India had earlier 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 However, the notification was later withdrawn.

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday took a swipe at the Central government's recent appeal urging people to celebrate ‘Cow Hug Day’ on Valentine's Day and asked ''what if the cow hits people?'' Mocking the ruling BJP at the Centre, the TMC supremo also asked “will the ruling BJP give compensation to anyone who gets hurt by a cow.’’  “If the cow hits us, what will happen? Will they (BJP) pay us compensation? They should first approve the compensation of Rs 10 lakh for those who might get hurt after being hit by the cow," the Bengal CM said, according to PTI.

If cow hits us, will they (BJP govt) pay compensation: Mamata Banerjee on row over 'Cow Hug Day' — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 13, 2023

The Animal Welfare Board of India had earlier 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 However, the notification was later withdrawn.

She made these remarks while addressing the state assembly during which she also reiterated her call to defeat the BJP in 2024, and said the country should strive for installing a "people's government to end anarchy". In an apparent reference to BJP president J P Nadda's recent remark on violence and corruption in Bengal, Mamata asserted that her state happens to have a better law and order situation than other parts of the country.

The CM slammed the Centre for “maintaining silence over the killing of innocent villagers by BSF” in the bordering areas of West Bengal. "The BSF has unleashed terror in the border areas of West Bengal. Innocent people are being killed in these areas. The Centre never bothers to send a fact-finding team to look into these killings," she said.

Hitting out at the BJP for “letting loose a malicious campaign” against the TMC by trying to project the entire party and the government as “corrupt,” Banerjee said people will teach the party a lesson.

"The BJP is behaving as if it is the only party of honest leaders and ours is a party of thieves. The saffron party is like a washing machine. A tainted person becomes a saint after joining the BJP," she said. "They are arresting our people for coal scam, but why is no action being taken against the custodian of the coal mines and the officials of the Centre-owned Coal India and ECL," she questioned.