Chopper scam: Antony says ready for Parliament session

Plays down reports that he has offered to resign over the scam, says sad over allegations of kickbacks

Playing down reports that he has offered to resign over chopper scam, Defence Minister A K Antony today said he will do his duty and is getting ready for the Budget Session of Parliament beginning from February 21.

"I will do my duty. I am getting ready for the Parliament session," he told reporters on being asked whether he will resign.

Antony said he was upset over the alleged scam as despite blacklisting six firms in one scam for which he was accused of slowing down modernisation, such an incident has happened.

Ruling out differences within the Government on the issue of dealing with the controversy, he said the whole government is acting together in the matter.

"Nothing like that...whole Government is acting together. It is the decision of the government that we must get to the root of the controversy. We must get to the truth... and whoever did it should be brought to the law at the earliest...there is no difference," he said.

Antony was replying to questions about perception of differences within the government on dealing with the matter.

He said that Government and his ministry have "nothing to hide" on the matter and assured that "nobody will be spared" if any wrongdoing is found.

"We will take action....Nobody will be spared. We are rigorously trying to get the truth," the Defence Minister said.

Replying to a volley of questions on why action is not being taken against individuals here, Antony said that so far whatever has come out is "media reports" and promised that the government will not compromise on transparency.

"We are trying to get the details of the investigation. We are proceeding as per the law. Unless we get some concrete evidence....unless something is officially with us, how can we act? We are rigorously trying to get the truth. Before that we do not want to jump to conclusions," the Defence Minister said.

Rejecting suggestions of any political influence in the deal, Antony said, "In India's defence procurements, there is no political decision."