Jantar Mantar Turns into a Battlefield of Words: ‘We Asked for Make‑in‑India, You Gave Us a Leak’

On a crisp morning at Jantar Mantar, Delhi, the iconic stone observatory swarmed with a mosaic of voices—students with placards, senior lawyers in crisp shirts, and ordinary citizens clutching handwritten notes. Their chant was simple, yet laced with a sting of disappointment: “We asked for Make‑in‑India, you gave us a leak!”

The protest was sparked by the online appearance of a draft document that outlined the next phase of the Make‑in‑India programme. The draft, meant for internal circulation among ministries, was suddenly circulating on social media, exposing detailed incentives, tax concessions and even projected targets for manufacturing sectors. While some hailed the leak as a peek behind the curtain, many saw it as a breach of trust.

“The very idea behind Make‑in‑India was to build confidence among investors and citizens alike,” said Advocate Rohan Mehta, who arrived at the site with a handful of fellow lawyers. “When a confidential policy paper leaks, it sends a message that the system can’t guard its own secrets. That’s why we’re here—demanding accountability.”

Organisers, a coalition of the “Transparent India” forum and a few legal aid societies, filed a formal petition with the Supreme Court the previous week, alleging negligence in safeguarding sensitive policy drafts. Their plea urged the court to direct the Ministry of Commerce to tighten internal protocols and to hold a public hearing on the matter.

Police presence was noticeable but restrained, with a few officers keeping an eye on the perimeters. The protest remained peaceful; a few participants used the moment to remind onlookers of the original spirit of the Make‑in‑India initiative—boosting domestic manufacturing, creating jobs, and reducing import dependence.

“Make‑in‑India is not just a slogan; it’s a promise to millions of workers,” remarked Sunita Rao, a textile worker from Gujarat who traveled to Delhi after hearing about the leak. “If the government can’t keep its own documents safe, how can we trust the promises made in that very policy?”

The demonstration lasted for about three hours, after which the crowd dispersed, leaving behind a few scattered banners and a lingering sense of urgency. Officials from the Ministry of Commerce declined to comment on the specifics of the leak, but a spokesperson said an internal review was already underway.

As the sun dipped behind the ancient arches of the observatory, the chant lingered in the air— a reminder that in a democracy, even the grandest development visions can be rattled when transparency is called into question.