‘Record intact’: Karnataka transport minister defends CM Siddaramaiah over fake post controversy

Hours after the Karnataka government faced embarrassment over Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s post on X (formerly Twitter) highlighting two recognitions presented to the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) by the London Book of World Records-later fact-checked as unauthentic- Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy issued a clarification defending the Chief Minister.

Moneycontrol had earlier reported: 'Karnataka govt under lens over ‘world record’ for free women’s bus travel; BJP questions award’s authenticity.'

Community notes flags CM’s Post

Siddaramaiah had posted on X on October 16, sharing images of certificates that claimed “world records” for (a) the highest number of women availing free travel tickets in Karnataka and (b) KSRTC being the most award-winning road transport corporation.

However, Community Notes- a fact-checking feature on X-flagged the post, stating: “London Book of World Records (LBWR) is a private limited company in the UK. The company was dissolved as of 15 July 2025 according to UK Companies House. This does not appear authentic.”

This is not the first time Karnataka has announced such recognitions. On October 1, KSRTC said it had received recognition from the International Book of Records – World Record of Excellence for the highest number of women availing free bus rides under the Shakti Scheme. Earlier, on August 18, KSRTC announced that the Shakti Scheme had entered the Golden Book of World Records for enabling over 500 crore women passengers to ride free between June 2023 and July 2025.

Also, read: Karnataka spends Rs 12,669 crore on 500 crore bus trips under Shakti scheme for women

‘Achievements Stand Independently’: Reddy

In a detailed clarification, Reddy said: “The intent of the post was to celebrate Karnataka’s commitment to progressive governance and efficient public service delivery. However, the post was targeted, with concerns raised about the credentials of the awarding organisation. This led to the addition of a Community Note and the eventual deletion of the tweet to prevent further misrepresentation.”

He added that the achievements cited were “factual, verifiable, and stand independently of any third-party recognition.”

KSRTC’s track record and global praise

Reddy also pointed out that the London Book of World Records had earlier presented awards to several public personalities and institutions, including Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the Government of Puducherry, and well-known figures from cinema and social work.

Highlighting KSRTC’s consistent performance, Reddy said: “KSRTC’s success over decades- and the Shakti Scheme empowering lakhs of women daily-are matters of public record and pride for Karnataka. These achievements continue to receive acclaim from national institutions, expert bodies, and citizens alike.”

He further said: “The post was withdrawn solely to avoid distraction from the substance of these accomplishments. Karnataka’s welfare model continues to draw widespread recognition-not just nationally but globally. The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Philemon Yang, recently appreciated our guarantee schemes, including Shakti, for advancing gender equity and inclusive public service.”

464 awards and 100 crore free rides

According to Reddy, KSRTC has received over 464 national and international awards, making it a record-holder in service excellence. He also noted that the Shakti Scheme has enabled over 100 crore free bus journeys for women in just over a year, calling it “one of the largest gender mobility programmes in the world.”

Also, read: Karnataka's bucket of woes: A listless Congress, divided BJP, citizens burdened by poor infra and price hikes