American singer Mary Millben has alleged that US-based donors opposed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi are funding the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and its founder, Abhijeet Dipke, while calling on young Indians to organise peaceful counter-protests against the group.
In a post on social media platform X, Millben urged young Indians to speak out against what she described as the party’s “disruptive spirit”. She also called for a counter-movement aimed at upholding democracy and freedom.
Millben’s remarks have brought international attention to an ongoing political dispute in India over electoral roll revisions and protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Funding Allegations Remain Unverified
Millben claimed that American donors opposed to Modi were financially supporting CJP and Dipke. However, publicly available reports have not established the alleged financial links through independently verified evidence.
The claims should therefore be treated as allegations rather than confirmed facts.
Millben has also urged young Indians to participate in peaceful demonstrations, framing her appeal as a response to what she considers attempts to disrupt India’s political leadership.
Abhijeet Dipke Responds to Millben
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke responded to Millben’s remarks by questioning the involvement of foreign nationals in India’s internal political affairs.
According to media reports, Dipke challenged the suggestion that American support was needed to discredit Indian protesters and criticised what he viewed as outside interference in the country’s domestic political debate.
The exchange has added another dimension to the dispute between the CJP-led protest movement and supporters of the Modi government.
Protests Over Electoral Roll Revision
The controversy comes amid demonstrations in New Delhi over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
CJP and other protesters have raised concerns about alleged irregularities in the revision process and demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The Election Commission and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party have defended the voter-list revision process, maintaining that it is intended to identify duplicate and ineligible entries. Critics, however, have questioned aspects of its implementation.
The protests have also drawn attention to questions surrounding electoral transparency, political accountability and the right to peaceful assembly.
A Debate Over Foreign Influence and Democratic Dissent
The exchange between Millben and Dipke highlights competing arguments about foreign involvement in domestic political debates and the legitimacy of public demonstrations.
While Millben has called for peaceful counter-protests, Dipke has questioned the role of foreign voices in India’s internal affairs. The underlying funding allegations remain unverified, and no conclusion about the source of CJP’s funding can be drawn from the claims alone.
The controversy continues to place the spotlight on the intersection of electoral reform, political activism and public debate in India.
