American singer Mary Millben has stepped into India’s political debate at a time when protests over electoral processes have brought the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and its founder, Abhijeet Dipke, into the national spotlight. On Wednesday, October 14, Millben alleged that US-based donors opposed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were funding the political movement and urged young Indians to organise peaceful protests against what she described as disruptive political forces. The allegation has not been established by publicly verified financial evidence in the report reviewed.
Millben’s comments have drawn attention not only because of the foreign-funding claim but also because of her longstanding public support for Modi. The singer, who has performed India’s national anthem and devotional music, has increasingly used social media to comment on Indian politics, defend the prime minister and criticise some of his opponents.
Her latest intervention has added an international dimension to the debate surrounding CJP’s protests and the demand for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
You Might Be Interested In
Who is Mary Millben?
Mary Millben is an American singer and performer known for patriotic music, national anthems and devotional songs. Although her political comments have brought her attention in India, music remains her main professional identity.
Her connection with Indian music developed through performances linked to Indian cultural and national events. She sang Jana Gana Mana during Modi’s 2023 US visit and has also performed the devotional song Om Jai Jagdish Hare. In an interview with Hindustan Times in 2023, she described how her early exposure to Indian culture shaped that connection.
She said, ‘There was Smita Patel, who helped take care of us as children growing up. So I was exposed to Indian music and Indian culture at a very young age, and I thank Smita so much for her love and sharing of that culture.’
Millben also discussed her performances during Indian national and religious observances, saying, ‘I was invited to perform during the 2022 COVID year to present the Indian national anthem for the 74th Independence Day and then to perform for the Diwali observance. So my interface with Indian music, Indian hymns, and the patriotic songs of India certainly deepened as I started to prepare for those performances.’
Her original recordings include Faith in Love, released in 2017, and Grace Will Lead Me Home, released in February 2020. The latter featured on the soundtrack of the independent film The Meanest Man and marked her debut single. She later performed the song on BET’s inspirational programme A Joyful Noise. Another recording, On to Victory, focuses on the protection of children in the United States.
Although these projects form part of her musical career, her performances of national anthems and her public support for Modi have helped make her recognisable to Indian audiences.
Mary Millben’s Allegations Against CJP
Millben took to X on Wednesday and claimed that CJP and its founder, Abhijeet Dipke, were receiving financial support from US-based donors who oppose Modi. She urged young Indians to speak out and organise peaceful protests against what she described as attempts to create political instability.
In her post, Millben wrote, “This is not the time to be silent.” She also addressed young Indians as “my young patriots” while calling on them to oppose the movement’s alleged disruptive activities.
Millben’s claims have not been accompanied by publicly verified financial records in the reports reviewed that establish the identities of the alleged donors or prove that they funded CJP. The allegation should therefore be treated as a claim made by the singer, rather than as a. A separate fact-check published on October 15 also said the available reporting had not established the funding allegation through verifiable financial evidence.
The dispute has also prompted a response from Dipke. According to India Today, the CJP founder questioned the role of foreign nationals in India’s domestic political debate and accused Modi of seeking American support to discredit his critics. The exchange has turned the funding allegation into a broader argument over foreign involvement, political dissent and India’s internal affairs.
Why is CJP Protesting in India?
The controversy surrounding Millben’s remarks comes amid demonstrations organised by CJP and other groups demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Protesters have raised concerns about electoral-roll revisions and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, including questions about Form 6, which is used in voter registration. These concerns form part of the wider political dispute over how electoral rolls are prepared and revised.
Comments
0 commentsNo comments yet — be the first.