Ek Bharat: integration of princely states
After Mountbatten plan the biggest question was about the princely states,as on one hand they were not capable to remain independent and on other many of them don't want to join any of the two dominions. The Indian Independence Act contained following provision regarding Indian States. The Indian States will be free to accede to either of the new dominion of India or Pakistan". This provision did not make clear the position of Princely States regarding the option of independence, leaving to juxuriate in wild dreams of independent power'! At the last hour, it was announced that with the end of British rule in India, the British paramountcy over princely states would also lapse and the states would become independent entities. The British government took the view that all these states, 565 in all, would be free to join either India or Pakistan remain independent if they wished so. Most of the princes of the states were against Nerhu as he was the president of All india state