UP CM Akhilesh leaves for The Netherlands to attract investors

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav left for The Netherlands on Monday, during which he is expected to meet investors.

Akhilesh had earlier drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties for undertaking this trip amid an ongoing electricity crisis and a worsening law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh.

Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Ram Gopal Yadav, however, defended the chief minister's visit to The Netherlands.

"This allegation of the opposition is completely baseless; the visit is not at all related to law and order in the state. The condition of this country is very poor, the border is unsafe and PM Modi is in Japan, but no one is commenting on this," said Yadav.

"The Samajwadi Party has many a time explained the law and order condition of Uttar Pradesh. The statistics of the Central Government say that the condition of UP is still better than many other states. This bad publicity is being done strategically just to demean our party," he added.

Uttar Pradesh, which has been facing acute power and water crisis, has of late witnessed a spate of rape incidents and violence against women.