Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Oct 19: A celebratory social media post by chief minister Siddaramaiah has backfired, leaving the state government red-faced as questions mount over the authenticity of "world record" certificates shared to highlight achievements under the Shakti scheme and the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC).

The chief minister had posted on social media platform X declaring that Karnataka had entered the global stage with “two historic world records” certified by the London Book of World Records (LBWR).

The post claimed the Shakti scheme had achieved the “largest number of free bus rides availed by women” — a staggering 564.10 crore journeys, and that KSRTC was the “most award-winning road transport corporation in the world,” with 464 national and international honours since 1997.

“Our governance vision is rooted in social justice, women’s empowerment, and world-class public service. These recognitions are a reflection of what inclusive and compassionate policymaking can achieve,” Siddaramaiah wrote, attaching images of the certificates.

However, within hours, the post was flagged by X’s Community Notes feature. Fact-checkers pointed out that the London Book of World Records Ltd, a private limited company in the UK, had been dissolved on July 15, 2025, according to UK Companies House records.

The note also questioned the authenticity of the body, sparking a social media storm. In response to the backlash, the post was quietly deleted.

A source in KSRTC later clarified that the certificate shared by the CM was a draft copy not intended for public release, and added that similar certificates had previously been issued by other entities, including the Golden Book of World Records and the International Book of Records.

Compounding the controversy were several glaring spelling and grammatical errors on the certificates, and inconsistencies on the LBWR website — such as the presence of a dubious contact number (1234-56789). Furthermore, the site lists offices in the UK, US, and New Delhi, but calls made to the listed numbers were unanswered, according to Deccan Herald.

The situation quickly escalated into a political row, with BJP's national IT Cell in-charge Amit Malviya accusing the Congress of falling for “a scam within a scam.”

“Yesterday, no less than Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah proudly claimed that two state schemes were recognised by the London Book of Records. Turns out — it’s fake. The so-called certificate is full of spelling and grammatical errors. Worse, the company was dissolved in July 2025, and the page is now apparently being run from Chuna Mandi, Paharganj, Delhi. Only the Congress could fall for this level of scam,” he posted on X.

Meanwhile, KSRTC issued a statement confirming that it had approached LBWR with performance data, and the organisation had verified and approved the certificate. “For any world record of this kind, the company does not reach out to you. We have to reach out to them, and that is what we did,” a KSRTC spokesperson told Deccan Herald, adding that they had also reached out to other record-keeping organisations.

Transport minister Ramalinga Reddy came to the government’s defence, stating that the objective of the CM’s post was to highlight Karnataka’s commitment to progressive governance and efficient public services.

“However, the post was targeted, with concerns raised about the credentials of the awarding organisation. This led to the addition of a community note by Twitter (now X) and eventual deletion of the tweet to prevent further misrepresentation,” he said.

Reddy maintained that the achievements cited — including the Shakti scheme and KSRTC’s track record — are “factual, verifiable, and stand independently of any third-party recognition.” He pointed out that the awards include honours received during BJP and JD(S) tenures as well.

“So what are they suspecting? Are they doubting their own credibility? The BJP does not have a positive attitude. They need to be in the news at all times. That is their mentality, and they achieve this by sowing seeds of poison in the minds of the public,” he added.

Photos of other Indian politicians, including Maharashtra deputy CM Eknath Shinde, also appear on the LBWR website with similar certificates, suggesting that the record body frequently engages with public personalities in India.

Despite efforts to downplay the episode, the incident has stirred public debate over credibility, validation, and political communication, and has reignited scrutiny over the government’s reliance on unverified third-party endorsements to bolster its public image.