Junagadh became a part of India, and later of the state of Saurashtra, through a:

Junagadh became part of India after a plebiscite held on 20 February 1948, in which the people voted overwhelmingly to join India. It was later merged into the state of Saurashtra.

Background:

• Junagadh was a princely state in the Kathiawar peninsula of present-day Gujarat.
• Its ruler, Nawab Muhammad Mahabat Khan III, was a Muslim, while most of the population was Hindu.
• The state was surrounded on land by Indian territory and had a sea link with Pakistan.

Accession to Pakistan:

• On 15 August 1947, the Nawab announced the accession of Junagadh to Pakistan, on the advice of his Dewan, Shah Nawaz Bhutto.
• Pakistan accepted the accession in September 1947.
• This caused anger among the people, who were mostly Hindu, and in India.

Indian response:

• A provisional government in exile, called the Arzi Hukumat, was set up in Bombay by Samaldas Gandhi.
• India stopped supplies to Junagadh and sent troops to the neighbouring areas.
• The Nawab fled to Pakistan in October 1947.
• The Dewan asked India to take over the administration, and Indian forces entered Junagadh on 9 November 1947.

The plebiscite:

• On 20 February 1948, a plebiscite was held.
• Over 99 per cent of the voters chose to join India.
• After this, Junagadh was formally integrated with India.

Merger with Saurashtra:

• In 1949, Junagadh was merged with the United State of Saurashtra.
• In 1956, Saurashtra became part of Bombay State, and in 1960 it became part of Gujarat.

Other difficult cases:

• Hyderabad was integrated through police action (Operation Polo) in September 1948.
• Jammu and Kashmir acceded to India through the Instrument of Accession in 1947.

Somnath temple:

The famous Somnath temple is located in the former state of Junagadh, and its reconstruction was supported by Sardar Patel.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Police action was used in Hyderabad.
• ✗The Nawab had acceded to Pakistan, not India.
• ✗There was no treaty with Pakistan.