India's home minister tenders resignation

India's home minister has resigned in the wake of the Mumbai terrorist attacks, bowing to critics from both before and after the attacks, observers said.

Indian Home Minister Shivraj Patil submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday, saying he took moral responsibility for the wave of coordinated terrorist assaults that killed at least 183 people in Mumbai last week, CNN reported.

Patil had been under criticism even before the attacks, and his resignation came as questions quickly mounted about the country's readiness to prevent terrorism. Critics cited a report to Parliament last year that blasted inadequate protection of India's shores -- which is how the attackers sneaked into Mumbai, The New York Times said.

This man has been widely criticized for not being up to it and it was simply impossible that he could stay on after this, N. Ram, editor-in-chief of The Hindu newspaper, told CNN, quoting Patil's critics saying (he hadn't) delivered in the promise to improve intelligence.

Patil's resignation could be an early indicator of electoral trouble ahead for Singh's government, the Times said, adding Indian media was focusing on Finance Minister P. Chidambaram as the next home minister.