Praful offers to quit, PM declines

New Delhi, May 23: Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel briefed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on Saturday May 22. Patel offered to quit his post, owning the moral responsibility for the Mangalore plane crash. But Manmohan Singh turned down the offer, informed the PMO officials.

Patel also conveyed his 'deep sense of anguish' over the worst plane tragedy in the decade. He is understood to have informed the PM that despite he had done a lot for the sake and development of civil aviation sector, he has the 'moral responsibility' for the mishap, as the head of the 'civil aviation family'.

PM declineed Patel's offer to quit and said that he should focus on facing the critical situation.

Patel had a 30-minute meeting with the Prime Minister during which Singh told him, "Certain things are beyond our control. If there are any mistakes to be corrected, they should be corrected."

Praful Patel also informed that the inquiry into the accident has been initiated by the DGCA.

All bodies were recovered from the crash site. 25 bodies still remain unrecognized, where as the search for the black box is still going on.

OneIndia News