New Delhi, Dec 18 (IANS): Describing as "outrageous" the US arrest and treatment of an Indian diplomat in New York, the CPI-M Wednesday asked the government to take "firm reciprocal measures".

"The arrest and the treatment meted out to Deputy Consul General in New York, Devyani Khobragade, by the American authorities was outrageous," CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat said.

"It indicates how the US administration views India and its diplomats," he said in a statement.

"This is not the first time an Indian diplomat has faced such indignity.

"Three years ago, the Indian ambassador to the US, Meera Shankar, was subjected to a pat down security search at a US airport.

"A similar situation occurred with India's Permanent Representative at the UN.

"The Indian government has to take firm reciprocal measures with regard to US diplomatic missions here," Karat said.

"Further, the Indian government should get an assurance from the US that it will adhere to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations with regard to our diplomatic personnel in the US."