The advertisement in question, by government-owned telephone service provider Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL), has been in print over the last few days. “Tez barsaat ka hona aam baat hain, puri Mumbai ka kaam par jaana khaas baat hain,” the MTNL ad says with the backdrop of a harrowed Mumbaiite who has made his way through knee-deep flood water and neck-to-neck traffic on city roads.

Municipal Commissioner Jairaj Phatak said he had neither seen the ad nor wished to. “We do not care about any criticism and we are not concerned if someone is taking pot-shots at us,” he said. When the details of the ad were given, Phatak retorted that even BMC can issue an ad about MTNL. “Even we can say how MTNL services fail during monsoon but BMC’s broom keeps doing its job. We agree there are crises but Mumbai is the most sought after city and people continue to come here. If there is a lull then the market will show,” he said. “We are busy ensuring the city moves on and are interested in maintaining the machinery.”

The MTNL on its part had said they wanted to show how Mumbaiites find their way through difficulties — read flood — during monsoon. “We did not intend to take any pot shots. The advertising is humorous in its intention and showed that MTNL is a special phone for the citizens,” said MTNL assistant general manager (Public Relations) A N Deshpande.