New Delhi / Washington DC — American singer Mary Millben has publicly alleged that the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and its founder, Abhijeet Dipke, are being financially supported by US-based donors opposed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, prompting a sharp public exchange between the two on the social media platform X and renewed debate over foreign commentary on India's domestic politics.
In a post on X on October 14, 2026, Millben wrote: "To all the beautiful young patriots in India: This is not the time to be silent. @abhijeet_dipke and the @Cockroachisback are being funded by donors in the U.S. who are against Prime Minister @NarendraModi and your future under his leadership. 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 continued: "And these select donors have a pattern globally, target conservative global leaders, find an U.S. educated person from the country, radicalize them, send them back to the country, and fund them to start chaos and destruction. None of them have been successful but have impacted the development and governance of the country." Millben called for "a new voice in #India, born, raised, educated on the soil of India, to RISE UP, organize, and peacefully protest the disruptive spirit of the Cockroach Party," ending with "Rise up, young patriots! Rise up!"
Millben, a 41-year-old African-American singer and actress, has a longstanding public association with Prime Minister Modi. She performed India's national anthem, "Jana Gana Mana," at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington DC during Modi's visit to the US in June 2023, and has previously made public statements supporting his government, including remarks defending his handling of the 2023 Manipur crisis.
Abhijeet Dipke's Response
Abhijeet Dipke responded on X the same day, writing: "Why is Modi seeking the support of Americans to discredit his own countrymen? Who gave foreign nationals the right to interfere in India's internal affairs? We are more than capable of dealing with our own issues. We don't need outsiders interfering in our country's affairs." His post was made in direct reply to an Economic Times report on Millben's allegations.
Millben replied to Dipke's post later that day: "Oh dear @abhijeet_dipke, the truth sets everybody free. Even you. And here's the truth: these US donors will drop you like a hot cake when you don't succeed. And you won't, because lawlessness never wins. Instead, take your U.S. education, talent, and use it for good. Sit down with the PM @narendramodi and be a positive voice to advance India. The truth of your courage to do what's right lies in your next steps. And the PM doesn't need American support. He has 1.5 billion beautiful Indian citizens who support him and have for 25 years, 12 years as PM, three consecutive terms. And will again in 2029. That's the truth."
Millben's claim that CJP and Dipke are receiving financial support from US-based donors opposed to Modi has not been independently substantiated by any verified evidence, document, or disclosure made public at the time of this report. No specific donor, organisation, or transaction has been named by Millben in her posts. Dipke has not directly addressed the specific funding allegation in his public responses, instead characterising the claim itself, and by extension Millben's intervention, as foreign interference in India's domestic affairs. CJP's broader public position, as reported separately, has been to reject allegations of foreign funding.
Legal Context: Foreign Funding of Political and Civil Society Activity in India
Allegations concerning foreign financial support for domestic political or civil society activity intersect with India's Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (FCRA), which governs the acceptance and utilisation of foreign contributions by individuals, associations and organisations in India.
The Act requires entities receiving foreign contributions for defined purposes to register with the Ministry of Home Affairs or obtain prior permission, and prohibits certain categories of recipients, including candidates for election, political parties, and office-bearers of political parties, from accepting foreign contributions at all under Section 3 of the Act. Organisations found to have violated the Act's provisions can face suspension or cancellation of their FCRA registration, freezing of accounts, and criminal liability under the Act's penal provisions.
Whether the CJP, which describes itself as a political and social movement rather than a formally registered political party contesting elections, falls within the scope of these restrictions would depend on its specific legal structure and registration status, neither of which has been detailed in public reporting reviewed for this report. No regulatory action, inquiry, or formal allegation under the FCRA has been publicly reported in connection with Millben's claims as of the time of this report, her allegation remains, on the current record, an unverified public statement rather than the subject of any confirmed investigation by Indian authorities.
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