Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 30 (IANS) Former Kerala finance minister and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Thomas Isaac Tuesday admitted meeting US officials in 2008 but denied that it was an attempt to attract foreign investment to the state.


He was speaking here on a newspaper report pointing to a US diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks. The cable was sent by a diplomat to the US state department in August 2008.

The US officials met CPI-M state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, the then education minister M.A. Baby and the then chief minister and veteran Communist V.S. Achuthanandan.

Asked if the meeting took place, Isaac said: “Yes, but that does not mean we were wanting any sort of investment... after all, it was just a meeting. Now none needs to be worried because no foreign investment came into the state in the last five years,” said Isaac.

The US team met Achuthanandan Aug 29, 2008. It was stressed in the meeting that the CPI-M was focused on promoting three sectors - information technology, biotechnology and tourism.

The US team also called on the governor, Congress leaders and the state police chief.