GORAKHPUR, Nov. 1 -- Urging the younger generation to make reading part of their daily routine, chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday described books as "the truest friends and lifelong guides," warning that excessive dependence on smartphones is distracting the youth and driving them towards depression.

Inaugurating the 'Gorakhpur Book Festival 2025' at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University, Yogi called upon students to reduce their screen time and invest more time in reading. He encouraged the youth to explore books on spirituality, science, environment, and artificial intelligence for holistic development.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision, CM Yogi remarked, "When citizens read, the country leads." He added t...