Agartala, Feb 26 (IANS): Amid controversy over shifting of its venue outside the capital city, the 38th edition of the Agartala Book Fair, the second largest in eastern India after the Kolkata Book Fair, began on Wednesday.

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb inaugurated the 12-day annual book fair at Hafania international ground, 8 kms south of Agartala city. Tripura Education and Law Minister Ratan Lal Nath said that around 130 stalls were set up by the book sellers and publishers from Bangladesh, West Bengal, Delhi, Assam besides Tripura.

He said that over 3,000 artists, singers, performers from Bangladesh and Tripura would perform in various cultural events to be held on each day of the fair. The Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government had introduced several awards -- Atal Bihari Vajpayee Lifetime Achievements in combined feats, and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya National Integration Award for outstanding contribution in the field of social service.

Over 700 poets coming from more than 12 linguistic backgrounds will recite their poems at the book fair. Several publishers and booksellers were upset and did not take part in the fair as the government shifted the venue from the capital city to the outskirts.