Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar today (Dec 23, 2003) said Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal has decided to resign taking moral responsibility for the attack on the Zee Telefilms office at Mumbai.

"Bhujbal's decision has nothing to do with the Opposition allegations against him in connection with the multi-crore fake stamp paper scam," Pawar told a hurriedly called press conference in Mumbai today.

Pawar recalled that he had made a public statement that no action would be initiated against a person merely on the basis of allegations by the Opposition.

Since he holds the Home portfolio and owes his responsibility, Pawar said he asked Bhujbal to submit his resignation to the Chief Minister.

Bhujbal had a discussion with Pawar for one and a half hour before resigning from his post.

Though the party was not directly connected with the incident, he (Bhujbal) has accepted the responsibility for the attack on a media organisation office, Pawar said adding, the Chief Minister will look after the home portfolio.