Is this getting petty?  India is ordering a new series of reprisals against American diplomats in New Dehli, in revenge for charging an Indian Diplomat in New York City with lying on immigration forms and violating US Labor laws.  This latest escalation reveals deepening faultlines between the two nations.

New Dehli ordered the US to shutdown an embassy club for expatriate Americans in New Delhi, which includes a pool, restaurant, and tennis court.  India claims the club contravenes the Vienna Convention.  All US embassy and diplomatic cars would now also be subjected to local traffic rules.  Last month, India removed protective concrete barriers that would stop suicide bombers from driving up to the US embassy.  And Americans working in India are being investigated for proper tax status.

It’s all in retaliation for last month's arrest of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade, who was handcuffed and strip-searched by US law enforcers after a complaint from her maid.  Federal prosecutors say Khobragade promised Sangeeta Richard that her salary would be the equivalent of A$5,000 a month, but the woman was paid about a tenth of what was promised.  They say Khobragade also drew up two contracts for the maid; false documents one to meet American labor requirements, and another set to reflect what was actually happening.

India has demanded an apology from the US over Khobragade’s alleged “humiliation” but hasn’t shown much concern about the well-being of the Indian maid Sangeeta Richard.  The US says Khobragade can be charged because she only had consular immunity, covering only her official office activities, and not full diplomatic immunity.  India has retroactively claimed Khobragade had fill diplomatic immunity.