American singer Mary Millben urges Indian youth to rise against CJP, alleges US funding behind ‘Disruptive’ outfit
American singer Mary Millben has alleged that US-based donors are funding the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), a youth-led political movement protesting against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in electoral roll revision. Millben has urged young Indians to peacefully oppose the group.
Total Views |
American singer and actress Mary Millben on October 14 alleged that US-based donors were funding the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), an emerging political movement involved in protests against the Election Commission of India. 
Mary Millben warns against CJP’s ‘Disruptive’ politics, highlights foreign (US) funding behind them, (Image: Siyasat Daily)
According to a report by the Press Trust of India (PTI), Millben accused the organisation of receiving financial backing from donors opposed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his leadership. She specifically named CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and called on young Indians to peacefully counter the group's activities.
STORY | Cockroach Janata Party being 'funded by donors' in US: American Singer Mary Millben
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 14, 2026
Alleging that the Cockroach Janata Party is being "funded by donors" in the US, American singer Mary Millben on Wednesday said it is "not the time to be silent" and called upon all "young… pic.twitter.com/U8oiuGcIzp
In her remarks, Millben said it was “not the time to be silent” and urged what she described as “young patriots” to stand against the organisation's “disruptive spirit”.
“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,” she said.
Millben also alleged that certain international donors followed a pattern of targeting conservative political leaders by identifying individuals educated in the United States, radicalising them, and subsequently funding their activities after they returned to their home countries.
She claimed that such efforts had failed to achieve their intended objectives but had nevertheless affected governance and development.
CJP protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
Millben's remarks come amid protests in New Delhi by CJP supporters and members of opposition parties demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The demonstrators have raised concerns over the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the exercise lacks transparency and could result in eligible voters being excluded from electoral lists.
CJP leaders have demanded Kumar's resignation and sought a criminal case against him over the alleged irregularities. The movement has also questioned the removal of names from electoral rolls, arguing that the process could disenfranchise eligible voters and potentially benefit the ruling party.
The Election Commission, meanwhile, has maintained that the SIR exercise is a lawful process intended to remove deceased, duplicate and otherwise ineligible entries from voter lists.
From online satire to a political puppet
The Cockroach Janata Party emerged in mid-2026 as a satirical online movement founded by Abhijeet Dipke, an AAP associate.
The group initially relied on internet satire, political messaging and social media campaigns before expanding into street protests and political mobilisation.
Dipke, who studied journalism in Pune and later earned a Master of Science in Public Relations from Boston University's College of Communication, previously volunteered with the Aam Aadmi Party's social media team between 2020 and 2023.
From online campaigns to street demonstrations, the CJP has increasingly sought to position itself as a pressure group on issues ranging from examination-related controversies to electoral roll revision. Its protests have attracted political attention, with the group claiming to represent young people concerned about governance, employment and institutional accountability.
SIR controversy brings CJP and opposition parties together
By October 2026, the CJP had shifted its focus towards the Election Commission and the SIR exercise.
The movement has alleged that the revision process resulted in the removal of more than 130 million names from voter lists, raising concerns about transparency and the possible exclusion of eligible voters. They never showed proof for such bizarre allegation.
CJP leaders, including Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, have demanded accountability from the Chief Election Commissioner.
The Election Commission has defended the legality of the SIR process, maintaining that electoral roll revision is necessary to ensure accurate voter lists.
Who is Mary Millben?
Mary Millben is an African-American singer and actress from Oklahoma who has performed for several US presidents, including George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
She gained prominence among Indian audiences after singing the Indian national anthem during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Washington, DC, in 2023. She has also performed Indian devotional songs, including “Om Jai Jagdish Hare”, and participated in cultural and sporting events associated with India.
As of October 14, the dispute continues amid demands for Kumar's resignation and the Election Commission's defence of the SIR exercise. Millben's allegations have added an international dimension to an already polarised domestic debate, but the question of whether US-based donors are funding the CJP remains unresolved.