India: Opposition parties to hold nationwide protests Dec. 22 /update 2

The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) - a coalition comprising 28 opposition parties - has called for district-level protests across the country from 11:00 Dec. 22. The action is to denounce the suspension of 146 opposition lawmakers during the winter parliamentary session on grounds of unruly behavior. The largest event will occur in Delhi's Jantar Mantar, where prominent opposition leaders - including members of the main opposition party, the Indian National Congress (INC) - may attempt to march towards the parliament building. Other notable gatherings will occur at the following venues:

• Bihar State: March from the Income Tax Department Office in Golambar, Patna, to the District Collector's Office

• Chandigarh: Near INC headquarters in Sector 35

• Chhattisgarh State: At the INC headquarters in Raipur

• Gujarat State: At Lal Darwaja in Ahmedabad

• Jharkhand State: Near the Raj Bhavan building in Ranchi, and outside collector offices in other districts

• Kerala State: Outside the Raj Bhavan building in Thiruvananthapuram

• Madhya Pradesh State: At Roshanpura Intersection in Bhopal and near Ghantaghar Chowk, Jabalpur

• Maharashtra State: Outside the District Collector's office in Pune

• Rajasthan State: Near the Shaheed Smarak monument in Jaipur's Tilak Nagar, in addition to outside administrative offices at other district headquarters

• Uttar Pradesh State: Outside district magistrate offices, with the largest rally from Lucknow's Begum Hazratmahal Park to the district magistrate office

• Uttarakhand State: Outside Raj Bhavan in Dehradun

Additional unannounced solidarity protest campaigns, including marches and sit-ins, are likely nationwide, especially in state capitals and major urban centers. Opposing political groups may also stage counterdemonstrations at short notice. Potential gathering sites include prominent political party offices, government buildings, public squares, press clubs, sports grounds, and thoroughfares. Well-attended gatherings could draw a few thousand participants.

Authorities will almost certainly monitor any large gatherings and may move to disperse overly unruly crowds. Officials could implement enhanced security restrictions, such as gathering bans and roadblocks, particularly near government buildings. Isolated clashes between police and activists, as well as between supporters of opposing rival camps, cannot be ruled out. Associated localized transport disruptions are likely near well-attended protests.