The Karnataka government found itself in an extremely awkward situation on Tuesday when a much-publicized "world record" certificate for its flagship Shakti bus scheme turned out to be completely fabricated, creating significant embarrassment for the administration.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had proudly shared the certificate on social media, claiming the scheme had set a world record for providing free bus travel to women. However, the celebration was short-lived as investigations revealed the document was entirely fake.
What Went Wrong?
The controversy unfolded when the Chief Minister's Office posted a certificate allegedly from "World Records Union" recognizing the Shakti scheme's achievement. The certificate claimed the initiative had created a world record by enabling 70.64 crore women to travel free of cost in state-run buses.
However, eagle-eyed journalists and social media users quickly noticed several red flags:
- The mentioned organization "World Records Union" doesn't exist as a legitimate record-keeping body
- Major spelling and grammatical errors throughout the certificate
- Questionable formatting and design elements
- Lack of verification from known record organizations like Guinness World Records
Damage Control Measures
As the truth emerged, the government scrambled to contain the damage. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah promptly deleted his tweet showcasing the fake certificate. Government officials remained tight-lipped about how such a document made its way to the highest levels of administration.
The opposition BJP quickly seized the opportunity to criticize the government, calling the incident a "massive embarrassment" and questioning the administration's credibility.
About the Shakti Scheme
The Shakti scheme, launched in June 2023, remains one of the Congress government's most popular initiatives, providing free bus travel to women across Karnataka in state-run transport buses. Despite the fake certificate controversy, the scheme itself has been widely appreciated by women across the state.
This incident serves as a cautionary tale for government departments about proper verification processes before making public claims about achievements and records.
