New Delhi, Dec 1 (ANI): Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar on Monday said Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister R. R. Patil resigned from his post as he was feeling uneasy in the wake of the terror attacks in the city.

Pawar said Patil had expressed his desire to step down three days ago, but was advised to stay on till the operation against the terrorists ends.

This was really an assault on India itself and (in) such situation R. R. Patil was very uneasy and he was in mood to step down. In fact two days back, I myself requested him that you allow the operation to finish. You cannot leave halfway. Today, he contacted me and communicated that he would like to take responsibility for the attacks and step down. So, I requested Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh to accept his resignation and forward (it) to the Governor, said Pawar.

Patil’’s resignation came after a meeting of the NCP in New Delhi, but there were reports that a day earlier he had refused to step down.

Earlier on Sunday, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil resigned over the terror strikes in Mumbai, owning moral responsibility.

Newspaper commentaries have blasted politicians for failing to prevent the attacks and for taking advantage of its fallout.

The attacks struck at the heart of Mumbai, the engine room of an economic boom that has made India a favourite emerging market.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said after the all-party meeting that he would boost and overhaul the nation’’s counter-terrorism capabilities. (ANI)