Facing mounting pressure to step down in wake of the terrorist strikes in India at repeated intervals, Home Minister Shivraj Patil submitted his resignation on Sunday.
He sent it to the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for a final decision. However, it is expected that it would be accepted because of the tremendous public anger in the country over the failure of the state to anticipate and prevent the terror attacks in Mumbai.
The attacks left 183 dead (officially) in Taj Hotel, Oberai Hotel, Nariman House, Leopold Cafe, Mumbai CST station and other locations where terrorists fired at indiscriminately, lobbed grenades and used explosives for mass casualties.
It had taken over 60 hrs for Army-Naval commandos-NSG-Police and other forces to rescue the hostages. Patil has taken moral responsibility albeit a little too late. It appears that P Chidambaram may be handed over his charge, with Prime Minister holding the finance portfolio.
However, this is not enough. The National Security Advisor MK Narayanan and heads of security agencies should also be forced to resign. Else they should be sacked. Heads must roll as a shakeup is necessary after such a terrible terrorist strike.
