NEW DELHI : The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Tuesday sought to know from the Union Government what security considerations it had in mind in denying permission to Chinese companies that had bid to build the Vizhinjam Deepwater International Trans-shipment Terminal in Kerala.

"We would like to know why this old mindset. George Fernandes [former Defence Minister] said China was India's number one enemy. We don't think the Congress agrees with this. Why are Chinese firms being blacklisted by the Government?" party general secretary Prakash Karat asked.

Mr. Karat was addressing correspondents after a three-day central committee meet here.

Global tender

Mr. Karat said a consortium of Chinese firms had bid through a global tender for building the port, to which the Kerala Government had agreed and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was to lay the foundation stone. The Union Government said the project could not go ahead due to the Chinese presence.

The CPI (M) leader said security considerations had earlier led to the Union Government cancelling the construction of aerobridges because the project was to be executed by Chinese companies.

"What is the security consideration? We want to know why the Government is allowing others. In Andhra Pradesh, a Dubai firm is building a port and Indian companies are investing in China," he said adding that the Government did not mind U.S. firms building ports in Pakistan and India. Mr. Karat said the issue figured in the central committee meeting. The party decided to collect more information on such developments and would take it up with the Centre.

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