American singer Mary Millben has alleged that US-based donors are funding India’s Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), linking the claim to Delhi protests over electoral issues. Her remarks have sparked debate over foreign influence, political demonstrations and democratic freedoms.
American singer Mary Millben has alleged that the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), a recently formed political satirical outfit, is receiving financial support from select donors in the United States. Her remarks have added a new dimension to the political controversy surrounding demonstrations in Delhi over alleged irregularities in electoral roll revisions and demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. <Link url=”https://www.business-standard.com/amp/india-news/cjp-being-funded-by-donors-in-us-says-american-singer-mary-millben-126101400350_1.html” title=”Source: Business Standard”/>
Millben made the allegations in a post on social media platform X on Wednesday, October 14, while expressing support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urging young Indians to organise peaceful demonstrations against what she described as the CJP’s disruptive approach.
According to Millben, certain US-based donors follow a pattern of targeting conservative political leaders in different countries by identifying individuals educated in the United States, radicalising them and subsequently providing financial assistance to create unrest. She alleged that such activities could affect governance and development in the countries concerned.
“These select donors have a pattern globally,” Millben wrote, describing what she claimed was a strategy involving political influence and financial support for movements challenging conservative leaders.
However, the singer’s allegations regarding CJP’s funding have not been independently established in the reports cited, and her social media statements should not be treated as verified evidence of foreign financial involvement.
CJP Protests Over Electoral Roll Revision
The controversy comes amid demonstrations in New Delhi involving CJP supporters and opposition parties over the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Protesters have raised concerns about alleged irregularities in the voter-list revision process and demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Opposition leaders have also questioned aspects of the exercise and sought safeguards against the arbitrary deletion of eligible voters.
The Election Commission’s electoral roll revision has become a major point of political contention, with supporters of the exercise and its critics presenting different arguments about its implementation and consequences.
The CJP, founded by Abhijeet Dipke, has attracted attention through its satirical political messaging and participation in protests. Dipke’s educational background in the United States has also featured in discussions surrounding Millben’s allegations.
Nevertheless, an individual’s overseas education does not establish any connection to foreign funding, and evidence would be required to substantiate claims about the source of an organisation’s finances.
Millben Appeals to Young Indians
In her post, Millben called on Indian citizens, particularly young people, to speak out against what she considers attempts to disrupt the country’s governance.
“This is not the time to be silent,” she wrote, urging young Indians to take an active role in the political debate.
She also called for a peaceful counter-movement, arguing that citizens should organise democratically to express disagreement with the CJP’s activities. Millben said such mobilisation should aim to uphold democracy and freedom rather than resort to violence or confrontation.
The singer’s comments reflected her support for Modi’s leadership and her opposition to the political movement’s approach. Her appeal was directed particularly at young people whom she described as patriotic citizens capable of organising peaceful civic action.
Political Debate Intensifies
Millben is known for patriotic performances and has previously appeared at events connected with India and its leadership. She came into wider public attention in India during the country’s 75th Independence Day celebrations in 2022 and performed India’s national anthem during Modi’s visit to the United States in 2023.
Her latest remarks have brought renewed attention to questions surrounding political activism, foreign influence and the funding of domestic organisations. The allegations also add to an already heated debate over electoral roll revisions, the Election Commission and the right to protest.
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The central issue remains the distinction between allegations and established facts. Millben has publicly claimed that US-based donors are supporting CJP, but such claims require verifiable financial records or findings from an appropriate investigation before they can be treated as proven.
As political disagreements continue over the SIR exercise and the protests in Delhi, the episode highlights the importance of transparent political funding, evidence-based public debate and peaceful democratic participation. Millben has urged young Indians to organise against the CJP, while the broader controversy over electoral procedures continues to be contested by political parties and other stakeholders.
