Mumbai, Dec 1 (IANS) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R.R. Patil Monday submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh to own up moral responsibility for the Mumbai terror siege that killed at least 183 people.”Patil tendered his resignation to Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh in the morning owning up moral responsibility for the Mumbai attack,” Patil’s aide told IANS.

“He has gone by his conscience and decided to step down,” the aide said.

Patil, who was also the state home minister, had drawn flak for his remark that “small incidents like this do happen in big cities”, a reference to the Mumbai terror attack that began Wednesday and went on till Saturday.

He was speaking to reporters Saturday, when the operation to flush out terrorists was still on at the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower hotel.