Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has issued a formal clarification after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s social media post celebrating two “world records” under the state’s Shakti scheme drew public scrutiny and political criticism, prompting its deletion.
The controversy began when the Chief Minister’s official X account posted on Thursday that the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) had received recognition from the “London Book of World Records.” The post claimed two honours — one acknowledging KSRTC for securing 464 national and international awards since 1997, and another citing Karnataka’s record for the highest number of free women’s bus journeys under the Shakti scheme. The certificates accompanying the post went viral within hours.
However, soon after, several users on X highlighted that the “London Book of World Records Ltd” — the organisation mentioned in the certificates — had been dissolved in the United Kingdom in July 2025. Data from the UK’s Companies House confirmed the firm’s dissolution. Following this, a community note appeared under the Chief Minister’s post, alerting viewers to the company’s inactive status and raising questions about the legitimacy of the recognition. The post was deleted the next day.
Facing growing online criticism and a political attack from the opposition Janata Dal (Secular), Minister Ramalinga Reddy clarified that the deletion was a precautionary move “to avoid distraction.” He maintained, however, that the achievements highlighted in the post were “factual, verifiable, and stand independently of any third-party certification.”
Reddy described the “London Book of World Records” as a private record-keeping organisation that has previously recognised several Indian figures and entities, including former Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the Puducherry government. He said the recognition was one among many such accolades that KSRTC has received over the years, but was not essential to validate the success of the Shakti scheme itself.
He also pointed out that Karnataka’s welfare initiatives have drawn attention at international platforms, mentioning that Philemon Yang, the President of the United Nations General Assembly, had recently lauded the Shakti scheme for promoting gender equality and inclusive public transport.
Defending KSRTC’s record, Reddy asserted that the Shakti scheme has enabled over 100 crore free bus journeys for women in just over a year since its launch, representing one of India’s largest gender-focused public transport initiatives. “KSRTC’s service excellence and the reach of the Shakti scheme are matters of public record and pride,” he said.
Meanwhile, the opposition JD(S) used the episode to criticise the state government, questioning the credibility of the record body. In a pointed post on X, the party wrote, “We thought only their surname was borrowed. Now even their certificates are bought,” alleging that the “London Book of World Records” offers purchasable record titles in gold, silver, and platinum categories.
While the controversy over the now-deleted post continues to spark debate online, the government has sought to shift focus back to the tangible outcomes of the Shakti scheme, underscoring its social and economic impact rather than the disputed recognition.
