Lucknow, Sept. 12 -- Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday recalled his initial hesitation when the idea of organising a book festival in Lucknow was proposed, saying the initiative was eventually given the go-ahead to create a platform for young people, authors and publishers to exchange ideas.

"When Yuvraj Malik ji first proposed organising a book festival in Lucknow, I was initially unsure about the outcome. At that time, Awanish Awasthi was serving as the Additional Chief Secretary; he suggested that we should encourage the initiative. I agreed, stating that I was in favour of it and that it ought to happen," CM Yogi said while speaking at the fifth Gomti Book Festival at Lucknow University.

The Chief Minister sai...