FIGHTING IN INDIAN STATE OF HYDERABAD

Grey River Argus, 7 August 1948, Page 5

FIGHTING IN INDIAN STATE OF HYDERABAD

Ruler Ready For Plebiscite

(Rec 11.10 o.in.) LONDON, Aug 6. Reuter's correspondent at Kolapur says: Indian Army units are now fighting for the second time in Hyderabad Native State territory. They have relieved Hadalgi, a village which had been besieged for four days by a raiding force of Razakars and Pathans. The Indian troops are now concentrating on Yelsangi, another village which the Razakars have been using as tneir operational base north-westward of Hadalgi. A draft agreement, of June 17, which, according to The Times New' Delhi correspondent, the Nizam of Hydreabad, is now reported to be preparing to sign,, so as to avoid the possibility of war, was prepared by Earl Mountbatten, who was then Governor-General of India, and Sir Walter Monckton, the Nizam’s constitutional adviser. It suggested a plebiscite in Hyderabad, on the question of the accession K of that Native State to India. In the interim. India was to control Hyderabad’s defence and foreign affairs. The Nizam was to dismiss nis present Cabinet in favour of a more representative one. The Razakars were to have been disbanded. BREAKAWAY FROM NIZAM Reuter’s Correspondent at Madras says: The Madras office the Hyderabad Native State Congress, has announced the receipt of reports that 83 villages north-west of Hyderabad have declared the independence of the Nizam’s rule and have established a local self government. [N.Z.P.A.—Reuter Cable]. (Rec. 7.40) HYDERABAD, Aug. 6. The Prime Minister, Mir Laik Ali, is reliably reported to have submitted his resignation to the Nizam of Hyderabad, but it is understood the resignation was not accepted. It is stated that the Prime Minister’s recision is the result of the Nizam's action in negotiating for a settlement with the Government of India through Sii’ Mirza Ismail, former Prime Minister of Hyderabad thus bv-nassing the Hyderabad Council Ministers. Four Moslem Ministers, representing the Chief Moslem political party in Hyderabad later protested to the Nizam against the resumption of the negotiations for a settlement with India. NEW DELHI August o.

A Government, spokesman said the Hyderabad situation had deteriorated in the past 48 hours and had developed too seriously for the Government of India to remain any longer indifferent to it. He added that an army of warminded Moslems, known as Razakars had evidently taken the law entirely into their own hands and the Nizam of Hyderabad appeared to have lost control of the situation.