Annexation of Junagadh

Between November 1947 and February 1948, the princely state of Junagadh was annexed by the Union of India, following the state's accession to Pakistan, internal revolt and a blockade by the neighbouring princely states. Junagadh had been a princely state under the suzerainty of the British Crown, until independence and partition of British India in 1947.

It had the choice of joining one of the two newly independent dominions: the Union of India or Pakistan. It was ruled by Nawab Muhammad Mahabat Khanji III, a Muslim whose ancestors had ruled Junagadh and small principalities for some two hundred years.

The Nawab decided that Junagadh should become part of Pakistan, much to the displeasure of many of the people of the state, an overwhelming majority of whom were Hindus, about 80%. On 15 August 1947, the Nawab announced his intention to accede to Pakistan, to which it was only joined by sea. The principality of Babariawad and Sheikh of Mangrol reacted by claiming independence from Junagadh and accession to India, although the Sheikh of Mangrol withdrew his accession to India the next day. Muhammad Ali Jinnah waited for a month to accept the Instrument of Accession. When Pakistan accepted the Nawab's Instrument of Accession on 13 September, the Government of India objected. Nehru laid out India's position which was that India did not accept Junagadh's accession to Pakistan. Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel believed that if Junagadh was permitted to go to Pakistan, it would exacerbate the communal tension already simmering in Gujarat.

The princely state was surrounded on all of its land borders by India, with an outlet onto the Arabian Sea. The unsettled conditions in Junagadh had led to a cessation of all trade with India and the food position became precarious. With the region in crisis, the Nawab, fearing for his life, fled to Karachi with his family and followers.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel offered Pakistan time to reverse its acceptance of the accession and to hold a plebiscite in Junagadh. Meanwhile, tensions were simmering in the regional areas and in major cities such as Bombay against the Nawab's decision. 25,000 - 30,000 people belonging to Saurashtra and Junagadh gathered in Bombay, proclaiming to "liberate" Junagadh from the Nawab's regime. Samaldas Gandhi formed a provisional government-in-exile, called the Aarzi Hukumat (lit. Provisional Government) of the people of Junagadh. Eventually, Patel ordered the forcible annexation of Junagadh's three subsidiary principalities. Junagadh's state government, facing financial collapse and lacking forces with which to resist Indian force, invited the Government of India to take control. A plebiscite was conducted in December, in which approximately 99.95% of the people chose India over Pakistan.

A number of scholars have opined that India annexed Junagadh through force.