CHENNAI, India, July 2 (Reuters) - Hundreds of Indian communists, shouting "Go back", held a noisy demonstration on Monday in the southern city of Chennai to protest the port call of USS Nimitz, the first U.S. aircraft carrier to visit India.

The nuclear-powered Nimitz's visit this week has been termed a landmark step in India-U.S. ties and a sign of a closer diplomatic and military relationship between the two powerful democracies.

But India's vocal communists say the visit is a move by Washington to bring New Delhi under its strategic umbrella.

"By allowing the ship, the Manmohan Singh government has compromised on India's independent foreign policy and shown itself to be a spineless government," David Pandian, a senior communist leader, told reporters outside the Chennai port.

Nearby, protesters shouted "Down with U.S. imperialism" and burnt effigies of the huge ship -- which can carry 90 aircraft, including the F-18 "Super Hornet" -- as well as the U.S. flag.

Dozens of policemen, many carrying bamboo canes, monitored the protest but made no arrests.

Under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government, Washington and New Delhi have seen a blossoming of military, economic and diplomatic ties, triggering unease among the powerful communists who help shore up the federal coalition.

Some port workers in Chennai, off which the Nimitz is anchored, have also expressed environmental fears about the nuclear-powered ship.

New Delhi has stationed an Indian naval vessel to monitor radiation levels in the air and water around USS Nimitz.

The U.S embassy has said the safety record of American nuclear-powered warships was "outstanding".

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