How Narendra Modi's fast venue was secured

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's three-day fast was initially to be held at the Mahatma Mandir in the state capital in Gandhinagar. But it was later changed to the Gujarat University's plush convention hall in Ahmedabad.

The Indian Drug manufacturers who had booked the convention centre five months in advance for an international exhibition 'Pharmac India 2011' coinciding with the three days of Modi's fast, were sent packing and have now shifted venue to the Mahatma Mandir.

The university had collected a rent of Rs28 lakh from Pharmac.

"Since the chief minister is doing it for peace and amity, we are not charging anything for it," University Vice-Chancellor Parimal Trivedi has gone on record to state.