Indian government urged Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown campaign not to mention ‘Sikh nation’ during Conservative Party of Canada leadership bid

Officials from the Indian government urged Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown not to use the words “Sikh nation” during his Conservative Party of Canada leadership campaign.

Brown confirmed on Thursday that his campaign co-chair was contacted by the Indian consul general during his 2022 Conservative leadership campaign, putting pressure on the Brampton mayor to change some of his language on the campaign trail.

The Brampton mayor gave testimony to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security Committee after being summoned to speak on alleged “electoral interference and violent criminal activities” carried out in Canada by agents of the Indian government.

Brown confirmed his leadership campaign co-chair, Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner, was contacted by India’s consul general and asked to pressure Brown into not using the term “Sikh nation” at events.

He said his campaign received “an angry phone call” from the Indian consulate where they made their “displeasure” about his language used at Sikh events.

There was then an around 45 minute “debrief” with Remple Garner, Jaskaran Sandhu who was also on the Brown campaign, and Brampton Deputy Mayor Harkirat Singh.

Brown ultimately changed his messaging to drop the English word “home” from his speeches to the Punjabi translation word for community, the committee heard.

The CBC has reported that Rempel Garner was allegedly pressured to drop from his campaign citing five anonymous sources. Brown said he has “no evidence” to support the claim.

Brown said Thursday that no members of the Indian government reached out to him personally during his leadership bid.

A report released in June by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) contained a redacted paragraph that detailed alleged Indian interference in a Conservative leadership contest.

With Indian-Canadian making up the largest segment of Brampton’s population, Brown has been outspoken about India’s consul general being “aggressive in stating their position” when his policies.

“I’m used to their organizations…being very clear about what they think of those issues,” he said, pointing to his support of recognizing the 1984 Sikh Genocide in India, a farmer’s protest and other issues.

Brown was also questioned about allegations Indian agents asked volunteers not to sign up Conservative memberships under the mayor, and that he was asked not to attend events that involved the Indian consulate.

He confirmed he was uninvited from an Indian Republic Day event due to his appearance at a vigil for Deep Sidhu, a prominent figure in India’s farmers protest.

Brown was unable to comment on the membership allegations.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre won the 2022 contest after Brown was disqualified from the party’s 2022 leadership race due to allegations related to financing rules in the Canada Elections Act.

Canada and India have disagreed for years about Ottawa’s response to the long-standing Khalistani separatist movement and the murder of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, allegedly murdered on the orders of India.

Tensions between some Hindu and Sikh residents exploded into violence last month.

India’s consulate in Toronto suspended diplomatic visits to process paperwork at places like religious temples after violence between Sikhs and Hindus broke out in Brampton.

“I don’t believe foreign intervention affected the final outcome of the Conservative leadership race,” Brown told a House of Commons committee on Thursday.

Brown said he believes it’s important to guard against foreign interference but that he does not want to get drawn into partisan debates on Parliament Hill.

– With files from The Canadian Press