Modi calls meeting of top ministers ahead of crucial day in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: With Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar set to make a statement on the controversial AgustaWestland chopper deal in the Rajya Sabha today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called a meeting of top cabinet ministers ahead of the crucial day in the Parliament.

The meeting, which is expected to be held at 10.30 am in the Parliament, would be attended by Parrikar, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu, besides others.

Read: Manohar Parrikar questions Cong's claim on blacklisting AgustaWestland

Parrikar, who met the Prime Minister yesterday, is expected to address the Rajya Sabha at 2 pm during the short duration debate.

Earlier, Parrikar had stated said his Parliament address would include how and when necessary clauses or provisions were relaxed to suit the company.

Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, had earlier on Monday accused the Centre of pursuing a politically motivated campaign to defame the grand old party through the AgustaWestland copter scam.

Meanwhile, the CBI has started third day of questioning former Air chief S.P. Tyagi at it's headquarter at CGO complex here in connection with alleged irregularities in the Rs. 3600 crore VVIP chopper deal.

The investigating agency had earlier on Saturday quizzed former IAF deputy chief JS Gujral in connection with this case.

Both Tyagi and Gujral were questioned at length in 2013, but the fresh round of questioning was necessitated after recent order of an Italian Court which indicated corruption in the deal.