Stand still agreement :
It was made between Nizam and Indian government on November 29th 1947.
What exactly is Stand Still agreement?
It was a temporary agreement between Nizam and Indian government to maintain status quo. There are various conditions etched in stand still agreement. We will look into all the rules and regulations that are mentioned in the agreement.
1) Stand Still agreements validity is 1 year. After completion of 1 year a a referendum will be conducted and based on referendum decision will be taken to make Hyderabad state independent or join it in India.
2) Hyderabad state should act as affiliate Kingdom of Indian government.
3) important departments like external affairs Defence transport and Communications should be under control of Indian government. Nizams should not interfere in this departments.
4) Indian government won’t interfere in internal affairs of Hyderabad state.
5) Along with nizams currency Hali Sikkha and Nizamia Sikka, circulation of Indian currency should be allowed in Hyderabad state.
6) Major Indian banks and insurance companies should be given permission to expand in Hyderabad state.
7) In case of war between India and Pakistan Hyderabad state to remain neutral they should neither support Indian or Pakistan.
8) Freedom of speech and freedom of expression are very important for any person to leave peacefully and happily. Nizam should grant freedom of speech and expression to Hyderabad people without any second thought.
9) Indian government appoint agent general for Hyderabad state. He will update all the information related to Hyderabad state to Indian government. Nizam should take care of all the expenses related to agent general.
10) Indian government has given assurance to call back armed forces from Hyderabad state.
This are the 10 conditions mentioned in stand still agreement.
On behalf of Nizam four members went to Delhi two sign agreement and in the process they met the then Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru.
1) Chattari Nawab : he was a prime minister of Nizam state during the period of stand still agreement.
2) Aliya var Jung
3) Sultan Ahmed
4) Walter moucton : personal secretary to meet Usman Ali Khan.
This four dignitaries signed agreement on behalf of Nizam.
Nizam Didn’t follow the stand agreement and they have violated various rules related to stand still agreement. This forced Indian government to take action against Nizam. The military action Indian government took against Nizam is called Operation Polo. Official name of the operation is operation caterpillar.
Few violations done by Nizam regarding Stand Still Agreement
1) Nizam Didn’t allowed Indian banks and insurance companies to expand in Hyderabad state.
2) Another major violation done by Nizam is, didn’t allow Indian currency to circulate in Hyderabad state.
3) As per the agreement agent generals expenses should be seen by Nizam but Nizam didn’t care about this rule of stand agreement. Agent general during this time is Km Munshi.
4) Prime Minister of Nizam state Layak Ali carried out discussions with the then Prime Minister of Pakistan Liaquat Ali. As per the rule stated in the agreement Nizam should not communicate with other countries, but he didn’t follow it.
5) Another major rule Nizam had broke is ” allowed Pakistan finance minister Ghulam Ahmed to take loan from Nizam”
6) Nizam had done secret communication and defence agreements with France and czechoslavia.
7) Nizam secretly bought weapons from Australia. For this Nizam signed a deal with weapon dealer named Sydney Cartlon.
These are Few of the rules Nizam had broke from stand still agreement.
After seeing all these violations Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru and home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel ordered for a military operation on Hyderabad state.