LAKE SUCCESS: The Security Council resumed its debate on the Hyderabad question today [May 24]. Chaudhri Mohammad Zafrullah Khan, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, represented his country and Sir B. N. Rau, the Indian delegate, took his place at the Council table also. Chaudhri Zafrullah read his charges against the Indian Government and … declared that the internal and external disorders in Hyderabad were either incited or committed by the Indian police.

He charged that when the Nizam of Hyderabad suggested that a plebiscite be held to “decide the future of his state, the Indian Government “insisted” that he should first accede to India and hold a plebiscite afterwards. “This was based on India’s expectation that the plebiscite would confirm the accession. Such a proposal was not fair to Hyderabad.”

He added that shortly before India took action against Hyderabad the Nizam’s Government ordered a withdrawal of its state forces to a line three miles from the border with the object of avoiding a clash with the Indian forces. “This shows that Hyderabad was doing everything possible to avoid any incidents likely to give provocation… .”

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2024