Divergent Indian Perspectives on the Junagarh Accession in the Context of the Indian Independence Act 1947

Abstract

List of Indian varying standpoints over accessing Junagarh during different events happening between August 15, 1947 to November 09, 1947 show vast level of discrepancies in such a way that duality of Indian leadership over this issue outshines. As this study highlights all the discrepancies in the political perspective of Indian leadership, one of its examples is, at one side, India supported self-proclaimed provisional government under headship of Samaldas Gandhi against the announcement vis-a-vis the accession of Junagarh State with Pakistan, and claimed Hindu majority population of the state and the Two Nation Theory as the fundamental reasons of this occupation. However, on the other side, it is controlling numerous Muslim populated areas (currently within or part of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Maharashtra, Assam, Kerala, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Gujarat and the Jammu and Kashmir) either by Redcliff-Nehru injustice or by direct occupation. Likewise, as India claims that Hindu population of Junagarh was against the accession of state to Pakistan and it had been gathered in Bombay for liberating Junagarh from Nawab’s regime; this study comparatively analyzes this claim by the convention of Muslim Conference held on July 19, 1947 in Srinagar where Kashmiri Muslims had displayed their consent for joining Pakistan.

In line with the abovementioned argument, this study looks at articles 2(4), 7(1) and 19(3) of the Indian Independence Act 1947 with a critical lens that provides concrete ground to analyze falsifications between Indian standpoints and illegal actions for occupying not only Junagarh but also several other princely states (including vassal states and feudal jagirs). Argument-based responses to Indian duplicity within the ambit of Indian Independence Act 1947 not only decipher flaws in foreign policy of Pakistan — foreign policy during last four to five decades regarding projecting Junagarh State Dilemma — but also appreciates Imran Khan’s government to bring into account this issue at international fora once again. Moreover, by content analysis of the responses collected during the survey, the study attempts to investigate what should be the responsibilities of President Office, Prime Minister Office, Information Minister Office, Foreign Minister Office, and Overseas Pakistanis Minister Office in this regard.