An instinctive offer to quit

Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patels offer to resign from the Cabinet,taking moral responsibility for the air crash in Mangalore last week,took even his party leader,Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar,by surprise. Pawar was abroad at the time and Patel had not informed him before offering to quit,an offer that was declined by the Prime Minister. When Pawar inquired about it later,Patel is reported to have told him that he was so overwhelmed by the sight of the tragedy that he somehow felt responsible for it. Offering to resign was an instinctive decision,taken on the spot,he told his leader.