Washington/New Delhi, 15 October (H.S.): American singer Mary Millben has alleged that the youth-led “Cockroach” movement in India, which opposes Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is receiving financial support from American donors. She has also called for a peaceful counter-movement against the campaign in India. Her remarks come amid reports that two leaders associated with the movement have been remanded to five days of judicial custody.

According to Russia Today (RT), an international television news network based in Russia, Millben claimed in a post on the social media platform X on Wednesday that certain American donors were financially supporting Abhijit Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), and his movement.

Millben alleged that some donors select activists educated in the United States to challenge conservative leaders in their home countries. However, she did not identify the individuals allegedly providing the funding or present any financial evidence to substantiate her claims.

Earlier, CJP founder Abhijit Dipke had rejected allegations of foreign funding. He maintained that the movement’s organisers and their friends pool their own money to meet the expenses associated with the protests.

Expressing support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Millben said the Indian leader would not yield to what she described as disruptive forces originating in the United States. She urged young Indians to organise peaceful demonstrations against the CJP, arguing that a counter-movement was necessary to safeguard democracy and freedom.

Notably, during Prime Minister Modi’s state visit to the United States in June 2023, Millben performed India’s national anthem at an event attended by members of the Indian diaspora in Washington, DC.

India witnessed large-scale protests last week, with demonstrators led by opposition groups demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protests were driven by objections to changes made to electoral rolls.

Meanwhile, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also accused CJP leaders and opposition politicians of attempting to destabilise the country at the behest of foreign forces. However, the allegations concerning foreign funding have not been independently substantiated.

CJP spokesperson Saurabh Das and co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka were remanded to five days of judicial custody on Wednesday. Both were among the demonstrators who crossed barricades in an attempt to enter Jantar Mantar, a historic protest site in central Delhi. Police had removed Jantar Mantar from the list of authorised protest venues.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar