Bangalore: Government was on the "threshold" of taking a decision on purchasing the much awaited Advanced Jet Trainers (AJT)s, Defence Minister George Fernandes said on February 5.

"The matter is on the verge of being decided. I will not say anything more than that", Fernandes told reporters to a volley of queries focussed on the multi-billion dollar AJT deal, on the sidelines of Aero India 2003 air show in Bangalore.

Asked if India was "resiling" from purchasing Britain's Hawk AJTs, reportedly a frontrunner in the race, he shot back, "AJT is subjected to rumours and some stupid ideas. We don't get into rumours".

When pointed out that some other countries were also in the reckoning, he said, "Number of countries are there over the years. I will not name them. It (the issue) is at a stage where a decision has to be taken."

"We are at a stage where a Cabinet decision is due to be taken," he said.

Asked if the government was willing to talk to other AJT makers than Hawk, he said, "Whatever proposals have been received have been factored into this document papers (relating to the deal)."

To another question, Fernandes said, "when a matter is going before the Cabinet, one does not discuss because it is marked a secret document."

When told that the government had been talking about being on the "threshold" of taking a decision for the last three years, he said, "Sometimes, one gets pushed back from the threshold. We are now at a stage where a decision by Cabinet is due to be taken."

PTI