Patrick Brown new Canada-India Parliamentary Group chairman

Patrick Brown, a Member of Parliament, has been elected chairman of the Canada-India Parliamentary Friendship Group.

"I am very honoured to be elected chairman of this very important friendship group," said Brown after his victory in a special general meeting in Toronto on Friday.

"For Canada, India is the second largest source of new citizens and an important trading partner. I am looking forward to this group working together to continue exploring and strengthening ties between Canada and India," he said.

Brown succeeds Calgary Conservative MP Deepak Obhrai.

"I would like to thank the former Chairman MP Deepak Obhrai for running the nomination meeting in accordance with constitution and for all his important work with this friendship group," said Brown.

"For the past two years as Chairman, Obhrai has worked at building bridges between the Indo-Canadian communities," he added.

Earlier, a row had erupted between Obhrai and Ontario Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla over the leadership of the group and the matter came up before the House of Commons.