Who is funding CJP? American singer Mary Millben alleges US donor links

Washington: American singer Mary Millben has alleged that the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which has been spearheading protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi, is receiving financial support from US-based donors opposed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Her remarks come amid a growing political confrontation over the CJP-led protests at Jantar Mantar, where activists have demanded the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

In a post on X on Wednesday, Millben accused CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and his organisation of being "funded by donors in the US who are against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and your future under his leadership."

The American singer, known for her public expressions of support for Modi, urged young Indians to organise peaceful counterprotests against what she described as the "disruptive spirit" of the CJP.

However, Millben did not publicly identify the alleged donors or provide documentary evidence to substantiate her claims about foreign funding. There has been no independent confirmation of the allegations.

The remarks come at a time when the CJP's protests have attracted support from opposition parties, including the Congress, while also triggering a major confrontation with Delhi Police.

Millben, 41, urged Indian youth not to remain silent and expressed confidence that Modi would withstand the protests.

"Do not fear, my young patriots. Your Prime Minister, who has served India for 25 years, 12 years as Prime Minister, elected three consecutive terms, is not going to bow to disruptive forces from my country," the post read.

She went on to allege that certain American donors had adopted a strategy of supporting movements against conservative political leaders in different countries.

"And these select donors have a pattern globally - target conservative global leaders, find a US-educated person from the country, radicalise them, send them back to the country, and fund them to start chaos and destruction. None of them has been successful but has impacted the development and governance of the country," she said.

Millben did not name the individuals or organisations she was referring to or provide evidence linking them to the CJP.

Calling for a counter-movement, she argued that democratic rights and freedom should be defended through peaceful mobilisation.

"It is time for a new voice in #India, born, raised, educated on the soil of India, to RISE UP, organise, and peacefully protest the disruptive spirit of the Cockroach Party... Rise up, young patriots! Rise up!," she said.

Her remark comes against the backdrop of days of political tension in the national capital following the CJP's call for demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The organisation, founded by activist Abhijeet Dipke, has accused the Election Commission of facilitating electoral irregularities through the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

The CJP has demanded Kumar's resignation, alleging that the revision exercise threatens the integrity of elections. The allegations remain contested, and the organisation has not established its claims of deliberate electoral manipulation.

The protests gained momentum after the CJP announced plans to mobilise supporters at Jantar Mantar on October 10.

However, Delhi Police imposed restrictions on gatherings in parts of the capital under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), citing concerns over public order.

Authorities deployed large numbers of police and paramilitary personnel across central Delhi, with heightened security around Jantar Mantar, Connaught Place and other sensitive locations.

Security arrangements included barricades, surveillance systems and restrictions on movement in certain areas.

Despite the restrictions, activists and supporters attempted to hold demonstrations, resulting in confrontations with police and several detentions.

Among those detained were CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and other members of the organisation.

Dipke, along with activists Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, was detained following his arrival in Delhi from Mumbai. The three were subsequently produced before an executive magistrate and released subject to conditions intended to maintain public peace.

The confrontation continued in the following days as protesters attempted to assemble near Jantar Mantar.

CJP activists Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were subsequently sent to five days of judicial custody following a separate protest near the site.

Talking to reporters in Nagpur, Dipke sought to know what offence CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka committed by waving the tricolour at Jantar Mantar.

"What was their crime?" he asked.

Das and Ranka were detained early Tuesday after they allegedly breached barricades and entered the Jantar Mantar area without authorisation, raising slogans demanding Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.

They were sent to five-day judicial custody and lodged in Delhi's Tihar Jail on Wednesday for allegedly violating their peace bonds and trespassing into Jantar Mantar, which was denotified as a protest area, police sources said.

Reacting to the action against the CJP leaders, Dipke said, "I want to tell Narendra Modi that if you want to impose emergency in the country, then do it officially."

"What is this, acting like cowards, imposing an unofficial emergency where you keep people in custody for five days just for waving the national flag at Jantar Mantar? That didn't even happen during the Emergency (imposed by Indira Gandhi in 1975)," he said.

Dipke claimed that waving the tricolour has become the worst sin in this country, such that people are sent to judicial custody for five days for it.

"So I want to say to Narendra Modi, don't be such a big coward; show some courage. If you want to impose emergency, then do it officially if you have guts," he added.

The American singer has previously attracted attention in India for her performances of the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, and the devotional song Om Jai Jagdish Hare.

She performed the Indian national anthem at an event in the United States during Prime Minister Modi's visit in 2023.

Her latest remarks have brought her into the debate surrounding the CJP's protests, the Election Commission and the right to demonstrate in the national capital.

As of Wednesday, there was no independently verified evidence establishing that US-based donors were financing the CJP or directing its activities.