New Delhi

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday said that though social media reels hog most people's attention today, there are still those who love reading books.

Speaking at the inauguration of the 29th edition of the Delhi Book Fair at Bharat Mandapam here, she underlined that her government will continue to support literary events that benefit publishers and the reading community.

"Books are friends that stay with you unconditionally. Even in today's era, where social media reels dominate, there are still people who genuinely love books," Gupta told the gathering.

"In Bharat, the tradition of reading and writing is ancient. A good book draws us into its world. We get lost in the characters and often learn from them," she said.

"We will always support such book fairs which help publishers and people associated with the event," she added.

The CM also congratulated Delhi Culture Minister Kapil Mishra and his team for successfully organising the fair, which will go on till August 10.

Following the inauguration, Gupta and Mishra visited several stalls at the fair, interacted with publishers and explored books and stationery.

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The Delhi Book Fair features a wide array of exhibitors, including major publishing houses, educational institutions and cultural organisations. The event is expected to attract thousands of book lovers from across Delhi.