'North India shed more tears for Sridevi than South': BJP's Narendra Taneja further alienates south Indians with bizarre remark
In a debate on the North and South tussle over the 15th Finance Commission’s formula for revenue sharing among states, BJP spokesperson Narendra Taneja made a bizarre statement and prompted anchor Zakka Jacob to intervene.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Narendra Taneja did his bit to further alienate the party from south India. On Friday, while appearing on a talk show, Taneja had made a bizarre comparison between north and south India, saying it was the former which shed more tears when Bollywood actor Sridevi died last month.
Taneja had appeared on a talk show on CNN-News18 to debate the central government's recommendations to the 15th Finance Commission. The government had said distribution of central funds to individual states must take place as per the 2011 Census and not the 1971 Census, as was hitherto the norm.
South Indian states had raised objections to this, saying it would reduce their share of funds. But when Taneja was asked about this and was asked if their grievances were genuine, he said there is no North-South divide, and called it the creation of the Congress party.
But that's when things got truly bizarre.
"When Sridevi died recently, north India probably shed more tears than south India. Was north India looking at the fact that she came from the South?" he asked.
Even CNN-News18 reporter Zakka Jacob interrupted him and asked, "What is Sridevi dying and north India shedding more tears than south India have to do with money?"
On the question of North-South divide, BJP's @narendrataneja came up with an absurd logic. Acc to him, North Indians too shed tears after Sridevi’s death. He says it proves there is no divide, listen in to the bizarre analogy
Watch #FaceOff with @Zakka_Jacob on weeknights at 8pm pic.twitter.com/qDQT6VbibK
— News18 (@CNNnews18) March 24, 2018
However, Taneja's statement is only the latest in a long series of missteps taken by the BJP regarding south India, ironically a region it has been trying hard to win over electorally.
At a time when Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah is accusing the saffron party of diverting tax revenues collected from South to fund development projects elsewhere, the BJP might find it difficult to ensure its victory march in upcoming Karnataka polls.

File image of BJP leader Narendra Taneja. Image courtesy: News18
His Andhra Pradesh counterpart, N Chandrababu Naidu, had also accused the Narendra Modi government of diverting tax revenues collected from the South to fund projects in Northern states.
Similarly, DMK working president MK Stalin also wrote to Modi and chief ministers of 10 non-BJP ruled states expressing concerns on certain elements of the terms of reference (ToR) for the 15th Finance Commission.
He said Tamil Nadu will lose out on funds if the 2011 Census data is used.
Friction between the Centre and the south Indian states has risen not only over the ToR of the 15th Finance Commission, but also on a host of other similar issues.
Previously, a row had also erupted in Tamil Nadu after BJP leader H Raja's made remarks indicating that statues of Periyar could be the next to be pulled down after a Lenin statue was razed in Tripura.
Periyar, among the foremost Dravidian thinkers, is revered across south India and disparaging comments regarding him will not go down well.
With inputs from agencies
also read

PM Modi taught BJP to walk on path of 'Seva hi Sangathan', says JP Nadda
Addressing the BJP national office bearers meeting in Rajasthan's Jaipur, Nadda said: 'Whenever there is a need for organisational advice, we always got the leadership of the Prime Minister and his guidance'

Driver’s gas connection, bodyguard’s dental treatment, PM Modi’s daily agenda extends beyond affairs of State and world
PM Modi has time and again reminded everyone that leaders who hold public offices have their first and foremost responsibility to the people who have elected them

Vote for BJP candidates in Tamil Nadu to solve problems, says Nirmala Sitharaman
Nirmala Sitharaman said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also encouraging the party workers, leaders and legislators to work for the welfare of the people