Bismillah ir Rahman ar Rahim
Distinguished guests, scholars, ladies & gentlemen!
Assalam o Alaikum
I am very thankful to Center for Global & Strategic Studies for organizing this conference. I extend my thank to President CGSS Lieutenant General Aamer Riaz HI (M) and Executive Director CGSS Mr. Khalid Taimur Akram for inviting me to speak about Junagadh State and exposing the Indian Manipulation.
Ladies & Gentlemen!
Junagadh was one of the 562 semi-sovereign princely states at the time of partition. As per the Indian Independence Act of 1947, the princely states were allowed to decide either to join anyone of the new Dominions of India and Pakistan or to remain independent.
The then Nawab of Junagadh State, His Highness Nawab Mahabat Khanji, after consulting the multi-religious state council, acceded with Pakistan on 15th of September, 1947 and Pakistan’s flag was hoisted in all over the state and Junagadh officially became part of Pakistan.
Ladies & Gentlemen!
As the policy of All India Muslim League for the accession of princely states was very lucrative, multiple states even of Hindu majority were willing to join Pakistan. India, having fear of domino effect, believed that if Junagadh is allowed to accede to Pakistan, there are chances that other states such as Jodhpur, Jainabad, Radhanpur, Dasuda, Vanod and Bajuna etc. might also accede to Pakistan as these states were already willing to join Pakistan.
However, India left no stone unturned to stop states from acceding to Pakistan. Even Indian leadership offered Nawab of Bahawalpur, the richest Muslim state in sub-continent, to become the first President of the ‘Confederation of Rajasthan’ consisting of states of the region which he categorically rejected.
In the case of Junagadh, India started planning to occupy the state even before the actual partition took place. The Gujrati newspapers run by the Congress started publishing made up stories of the cruelties inflicted on the Hindus of the state to create fear and chaos. One of the leading Hindu newspapers, Janam Bohme, owned by Amrat Lal Saith maligned the Memons for creating difficulties for the Hindus because of their loyalties to Pakistan.
In addition to fabricating such false narrative, Indian Naval forces started patrolling of Junagadh’s Veraval port to search and examine all boats approaching to Junagadh by claiming that ammunition is being transported to Junagadh from Pakistan.
The then Indian naval chief Rear-Admiral J.T.S. Hall was reluctant to take action because even if transportation of ammunition happened, it was legal for Junagadh according to the International Maritime Laws, Commonwealth Conventions, and Joint Defence Council agreements as it was a transportation between two parts of single state that is Pakistan. Though Mr. Hall conveyed his views to Civil leadership, V.P. Menon ignored these views and ordered to take strict measures.
Ultimately, Indian Army blocked all supplies coming to Junagadh such as fuel, coal and ration. Moreover, air and postal links were disconnected; roads and railways were blocked.
This whole saga was planned to spread fear of war among the masses and to force the Nawab to reconsider his decision of accession which he never did. Finally, Junagadh was completely sealed from all sides and an artificial law-and-order situation was shaped to create a pretext for Indian interference in Junagadh – that was now Pakistan. On 9th of November, 1947, the Indian army advanced its troops in Junagadh State and the occupation was made.
The interim government of Junagadh declared by India was non-Junagadhi lead by Samaldas Gandhi. India imported people from other parts of India in the Junaadh state initially to create chaos and violence and later on to take up the power reigns into their own hands.
After Indian occupation on the Junagadh State, a so-called referendum by the Indian Government with Samaldas Gandhi as its President and Rajkot was declared as its headquarter. The subordinate vassal states of Junagadh were also invaded and merged into India.
Pundit Nehru sent a telegram to Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawabzada Liaqat Ali Khan saying and I quote,
“Our Regional Commissioner at Rajkot has taken temporarily charge of Junagadh administration. This has been done to avoid disorder and resulting chaos. We have, however, no desire to continue this arrangement.”
In response, Nawabzada Liaqat Ali Khan sent telegram. He categorically mentioned as I quote,
“We consider your action in taking charge of Junagadh Administration and sending Indian troops to occupy Junagadh to be a direct act of hostility against Pakistan Dominion. We demand that you should immediately withdraw your forces, and relinquish charge of administration to the rightful ruler and stop people of Union of India from invading Junagadh and committing acts of violence.”
Unquote
Ladies & Gentlemen!
The Indian claims that Pakistan firstly introduced the tribes in the Kashmir war against India is not unprecedented. It was not Pakistan but India who brought Hindus from other regions to Junagadh State to create chaos and disorder and occupy Pakistani territory. So the precedence was set by India already in Junagadh which was later practiced by the tribes in Jammu & Kashmir.
The issue of Junagadh State was discussed in United Nations in January, 1948. However, the Kashmir issue overshadowed the issue of Junagadh in the UNSC.
The current government of Pakistan, in a new political map released in 2020, claimed Junagadh, Sir Creek and the Manavadar as the territory of Pakistan. The act is the right step in the right direction. The current Nawab of Junagadh, H. H. Nawab Jahangir Khanji, with the legal status of sovereign in exile, is very active and vibrant for the peaceful resolution of the conflict.
Ladies & Gentlemen!
To conclude, there are a number of examples like Junagadh that unveil the reality about artificial creation of Union of India. India is not a country but a region consisting of several nations. The slogan of the Indian Nationalism was the biggest political fraud of the 20th century which was constructed to maintain Indian illegal occupation and hegemony in the region.
However, occupation cannot last for long and the Indian occupation on Junagadh and Jammu & Kashmir has to end and all the nations residing in India have to have their independence.
With these words, I once again thank the organizers and all the participants.
