Washington: American singer Mary Millben and Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke exchanged barbs on Wednesday (October 14, 2026) over allegations of foreign funding for the outfit spearheading protests in India.
In a post on X, Millben claimed that the CJP was being “funded by donors” in the United States. She called on “young patriots” in India to rise and peacefully protest against the “disruptive spirit” of the outfit founded by Dipke.
Dipke hit back at Millben, questioning why Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seeking Americans’ support 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,” Dipke said in response to Millben.
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.
— Mary Millben (@MaryMillben) October 14, 2026
The exchange came amid protests in New Delhi by opposition parties and the CJP, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Millben responded to Dipke, saying that the Prime Minister did not need American support as he had received backing from “1.5 billion beautiful Indian citizens” for the past 25 years.
“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 said.
The American singer also cautioned Dipke, claiming that his 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 US education, talent, and use it for good,” Millben said, urging him to “sit down with PM Modi and be a positive voice to advance India.”
“The truth of your courage to do what’s right lies in your next steps,” she said.
Earlier, the 41-year-old singer had alleged that Dipke and his party were “funded by donors in the U.S. who are against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and your future under his leadership.”
“This is not the time to be silent,” she said, urging “all the beautiful young patriots in India” to stand up and peacefully protest against the “disruptive” forces.
“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.
Millben further alleged that certain donors followed a pattern of targeting conservative global leaders by finding US-educated individuals from their countries, radicalising them, sending them back and funding them to create chaos and destruction.
“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.
The American singer said there should always be a counter-movement to uphold democracy and freedom.
“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.
The African-American Hollywood actress and singer is known in India for her rendition of the national anthem and the religious song ‘Om Jai Jagdish Hare’. Millben sang India’s national anthem, ‘Jana Gana Mana’, at an event in the United States in 2023 during the Prime Minister’s visit.
