LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has canceled plans to attend the premiere of Bollywood’s “Dedh Ishqiya” with Madhuri Dixit after facing flak for organizing a cultural extravaganza in Saifai village.

The star-studded gala at the ancestral village of Samajwadi Party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and the chief minister drew the ire of the opposition parties and the media, who accused the state government of ignoring Muzaffarnagar riot victims’ sufferings.

The chief minister’s program to watch the premiere has been canceled, a senior official told PTI.

As per the program Akhilesh was to watch the premiere at a mall in Lucknow this afternoon with Madhuri and other dignitaries.

Earlier, the state government had announced an aid of Rs. 1 crore to “Dedh Ishqiya” and Saif Ali Khan’s “Bullet Raja” as they were shot in UP.

Though no official reason has been cited for cancelation of the chief minister’s program, sources said that the decision was taken following public cirticism.