Uttar Pradesh [Images] Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav [Images] on Wednesday defended the state government's decision to confer Yash Bharti, the state's highest award to cine star Abhishek Bachchan [Images].

"What's wrong with conferring the award on Abhishek Bachchan, who hails from Uttar Pradesh and has earned his state a lot of fame in the international arena," Mulayam said when asked about the decision at a press conference in Lucknow.

"It was in line with our award policy, which was to felicitate those personalities who earned name and fame for the state in the world," Mulayam said.

Abhishek's father and Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan [Images] has also been a recipient of this prestigious award.