US singer Mary Millben has alleged that American donors are funding Abhijeet Deepke and the Cockroach Janata Party, which she says are working against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She did not identify any donor or provide details of the alleged financial support.
The allegation has emerged as the party has warned of a protest in Delhi. Police detained Deepke on Sunday, while CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurabh Das were sent to judicial custody for 5 days after a case involving the display of the national flag at Jantar Mantar and an alleged violation of Section 163.
Millben's allegations
Millben described the alleged donor activity as part of a wider pattern. She claimed that selected donors target conservative leaders, identify young people from the relevant country who studied in America, radicalise them, fund their return and seek to create disruption.
She also alleged that such efforts had not succeeded so far, but had affected development and governance in the countries involved. Her comments did not name a specific donor, organisation or financial transaction.
Millben said India's prime minister would not yield to what she described as disruptive forces. In her statement, she referred to Modi's service to India for 25 years, his 12 years as prime minister and his election for 3 consecutive terms.
Deepke's response on funding
Deepke was questioned about funding during a press conference in Mumbai. He responded that publicly disclosing the party's funding would not resolve questions about elections and argued that the party's funding had no connection with alleged wrongdoing by the Election Commission.
He also rejected suggestions that the planned protest would be small, saying people should attend and see the stage. During the exchange, he addressed questions about graphs of his shoes and said he could afford the ₹30 thousand footwear mentioned in those questions.
Deepke added that he had travelled across America and said that his ability to visit different places there meant he could also travel across India's states.
Custody of CJP leaders
Ranka and Das were brought to Tihar jail on Wednesday and are expected to remain there for 5 days. Another party office-bearer, Ajinkya Shinde, was also arrested but was released on a ₹5 thousand bond.
Police have alleged that Ranka and Das are repeat offenders. Police also said the two did not comply with bonds they had signed in connection with maintaining peace.
Deepke criticised the action and called on Narendra Modi to officially announce an emergency if that was the government's intention. He described the detention of people for 5 days after displaying the national flag at Jantar Mantar as an undeclared emergency.
The allegations about overseas funding remain unaccompanied by publicly identified donors in the available material. Deepke's response disputes the relevance of the funding question to the electoral allegations he was asked about, while the police claims concern the conduct of the detained party leaders.
Conclusion
Mary Millben has alleged overseas funding for Abhijeet Deepke and the Cockroach Janata Party, without naming donors. The claims come alongside a planned Delhi protest, Deepke's detention and the 5-day judicial custody of two CJP leaders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What did Mary Millben allege?
She alleged that American donors are funding Abhijeet Deepke and the Cockroach Janata Party because they oppose Narendra Modi.
Q. Did Millben name any donors?
No. The available material does not identify any donor named by her.
Q. What did Deepke say about the funding issue?
He said the party's publicly disclosed funding was unrelated to alleged wrongdoing by the Election Commission.
Q. Why were Ashutosh Ranka and Saurabh Das sent to custody?
They were sent to judicial custody for 5 days over the display of the national flag at Jantar Mantar and an alleged violation of Section 163.
Q. Where were Ranka and Das taken?
They were brought to Tihar jail on Wednesday.
Q. What happened to Ajinkya Shinde?
The party office-bearer was arrested and later released on a ₹5 thousand bond.
Q. What has police alleged about Ranka and Das?
Police alleged that they are repeat offenders and did not comply with bonds signed to maintain peace.
