Re: The Story Of The Accession Of The Princely State Of Junagar
Pasha is right. States were allowed to choose. India accepted this rule in case of Muslim-majority Kashmir, where Raja chose India; but rejected the rule in case of Hindu-majority states of Junagarh, Manawadar, and Hyderabad, where Nawabs chose Pakistan.
You can still see some cars with the license plates issued in the name of State of Junagarh. Because Pakistan has not officially accepted Indian claim on Junagarh.
On 15th September, 1947, Nawab Muhammad Mahabat Khanji III of Junagadh, a princely state located on the south end of Kathiawar peninsula, chose to accede to Pakistan, because Junagadh adjoined Pakistan by sea.
Junagadh was occupied on the 9th of November 1947 at 6 PM by the Indian Army led by Brigadier Gurdial Singh. Thus, from that day Junagadh became de facto India’s whilst being de jure Pakistan’s.Immediately after the take-over of the state, all Muslim Officials of the state were put behind bars. They included Ismail Abrehani, who had taken the Instrument of Accession to the Quaid-e-Azam for his signature. Abrehani refused to leave Junagadh, even when he was offered in jail the option of going to Pakistan, saying that despite its occupation Junagadh was part of Pakistan according to International law and he preferred to remain. He stayed and later died in Junagadh.