No deal made with Italy on AgustaWestland case: Govt

"Those who cannot see Prime Minister succeed even hint at him cutting a deal. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Prime Minister Modi did not cut any deal of any sort. His only goal and priority is the development of comprehensive national power, and empowerment of our masses," read a government statement.

"A few have even sought to link one of the accused with Shri Ajit Doval, present NSA, as also Shri Nripendra Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. This is a totally baseless assertion, devoid of reason and logic, and indicative of malicious intent. In reality, there is no such connection," read the statement.

The government said the central issue in the matter pertaining to acquisition of Agusta Westland helicopters was 'corruption'.

"In the matter pertaining to acquisition of Agusta Westland helicopters, the undisputed central issue that stands out is corruption, especially bribery. Any other line of assumption, approach and effort, as is being attempted in some quarters, is misleading, tries to hide the wrong-doers and is driven by instincts of self preservation," read the government statement.

The Congress on Saturday slammed the BJP and PM Modi over the AgustaWestland chopper deal.

"According Shri Amit Shah, AgustaWestland & its parent co. Finmeccanica are both bogus companies," Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said while addressing a press conference.

"Can Shri Shah ask PM Modi why, for the last 2 years, these 'bogus' companies have been given protection," he said.

Targeting Narendra Modi and his government, the senior Congress leader said: "Can Shri Shah and BJP tell the country why these 'bogus' companies were allowed to participate in PM Modi's Make in India event."

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday summoned former IAF chief S.P. Tyagi in connection with the AugustaWestland chopper deal, media reports said.

The scam has already rocked the Parliament this week with the ruling BJP targeting the Congress and its president Sonia Gandhi over the issue.

An Italian court investigated the contract because Augusta's parent company is Finmeccanica, an Italian defence manufacturer, and decided that vast amounts of bribes were routed to India by company executives to land the deal for 12 VVIP helicopters for about Rs. 3,600 crore.

 The deal was cancelled by India in 2014 after the Italians began investigating it, a point the Congress is flashing in its defence along with the fact that AgustaWestland has not been banned by the new government from bidding for new defence deals.

The Congress  made its own demand for a discussion on AugustaWestland demanding to know why the defence manufacturer accused of corruption was taken off a blacklist by the Narendra Modi government.