Prayer Meeting, Delhi, 11 November, 1947

I had not expected that the struggle which was being carried out on behalf of the people of Junagadh would have such a happy ending. I had also expressed my fear that if the request of the officials of Junagadh for India's assistance did not have the sanction of Qaid-e-Azam Jinnah (the Governor-General of Pakistan), it would not be proper to feel right about the matter now. Hence you will be amazed and distressed to know that the officials of Pakistan have now protested against the Provisional Government of the State assuming power on behalf of the people. The officials have demanded "withdrawal of Indian troops from the State's territory, relinquishment of the administration to the rightful Government, and stoppage of violence and invasion of the State by people from the Indian Union." They also state that neither the Nawab nor the Dewan of Junagadh has any legal authority to negotiate any permanent or provisional settlement with the Indian Union. According to Pakistan, the action of the Government of India is "a clear violation of Pakistan territory, and a breach of international law."

"Looking at the reports that have appeared, I find that there is neither a breach of international law in the matter, nor any operation by the Government of India to establish control over the State of Junagadh. As far as I can see, there is nothing illegal in the campaign (for accession to India) carried on by the Provisional Government on behalf of the people of Junagadh. The Government of the Union of India sent military help for the safety of the whole of Kathiawad at the request of the rulers of that territory. Hence, I find nothing illegal in this whole action. As against this, whatever the Dewan of Junagadh did by publicly changing his mind, was illegal. I look at the whole situation like this: the Nawab of Junagadh had no right at all to accede to Pakistan without the consent of his people, of which I sm told that 85 per cent are Hindus.

The Sacred Hill of Girnar and all the temples on it are part of Junagadh. Hindus have spent a lot of money on those temples, and thousands of people go to Girnar on pilgrimage from all parts of India. In free India, the whole of the country belongs to all the people. Not even the smallest part of it can belong to the Princes as their private property. They can retain their claim to be Rulers only by becoming trustees of the people, and that is why they would be required to give evidence of popular support for every action of theirs. The Princes have not yet realised that they are the trustees and representatives of the people. And it is also true that, with the exception of the alert subjects of some States, the people of all the princely States have not yet realised that they are the true rulers of themselves. But that does not diminish the principle ofwhat I have laid down.

Only the people of any particular State have the legal right to accede to one of the Unions, India or Pakistan. If any Ruler joins either of the Unions in his personal capacity, that Dominion cannot stand before the world to justify his action. From this point of view, I think that the Nawab's accession has been baseless from the very beginning till it is proved that the people of the State had not given their consent to his decision. The dispute as to which Union Junagadh would finally accede to can be resolved only by taking public opinion, that is by referendum. This task should be properly carried out without violence, or even the show of violence. One cannot think that the matter should be decided by the sword.

Whatever I have said about Junagadh applies equally to Kashmir and to Hyderabad. As far as I know, the point has been clarified in the case of Kashmir. If it had been only the Maharaja who had wanted to accede to the Indian Union, I could never support such an act. The Government of India agreed to the accession for the time being, because both the Maharaja and Sheikh Abdullah, who is the representative of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, wanted it. Sheikh Abdullah came forward to make the demand representing not only the Muslims but the  entire masses of Kashmir.

Government Statement On Militant Activities in J&K

Total number of persons killed in

Year                            J&K               No. of militants arrested and detained

1993                            256                                          478

1994                            286                                          4244

1995                            2768                                        43288

                                    (Source: LSUQ No. 2728 dated 10 December, 1996 by P.R. Dasmunsi)