It was disappointing to see that the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) members defied the state diktat and broke handis on the dahi handi festival in certain pockets of the city. In the run-up, the BJP, too, in opposition in the state had a refrain about the current govt being discriminatory and had vowed defiance.

One would think that as Covid rages, and Mumbai is seeing a slightly worrying rise in cases, at this time at least, politicians would set their differences aside and desist from the usual game playing. Yet, perhaps we are naïve to think so. Our leaders continue to milk opportunities to rile one against the other and score points, with little heed to the price people will pay if they fall into traps like these.