Nationalist party leader slams main opposition over Kurdish issue

ANKARA

Devlet Bahçeli. AA photo

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli has harshly criticized main opposition Republican People’s Party leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who accused the MHP of acting as a crutch to the ruling party.

“Our party does not have anything to learn from a party that forgets its history of supporting the [ruling Justice and Development Party] AKP’s destructive policies or their mentorship of the [outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party] PKK’s traitorous plans. The new CHP has made its choice and stands shoulder to shoulder with the AKP, the BDP and the PKK,” Bahçeli said yesterday in a written statement.

CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu criticized the MHP on Aug. 14 for their refusal to attend an extraordinary session of Parliament to discuss the latest PKK attacks. 

“Mr. Bahçeli said that Turkish soil is under siege by the PKK. This view is very dangerous and scary. If we are in such danger, will you come up with a solution by lending your support to the AKP policies that brought Turkey to this point?” Kılıçdaroğlu said, speaking at his party’s parliamentary group meeting.

Responding to Kılıçdaroğlu’s criticisms, Bahçeli said that Kılıçdaroğlu’s remarks were “unfortunate and insulting,” and accused Kılıçdaroğlu of supporting ethnic separatism.

“When Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu criticized the MHP’s logical choice as ‘acting as a crutch to government,’ he put his signature under deep water. And he failed once again. Apparently he forgot that he is the substitute player for ethnic separatism,” Bahçeli said, also accusing the CHP of being a “crutch to the government.”

“CHP’s warm approach to the AKP on the subject of the cold Kurdish question briefly showed everyone who is a crutch to the government. Recent statements from the CHP’s Tunceli deputy Hüseyin Aygün especially demonstrate the future thoughts of the CHP. As a matter of fact, the PKK has given new duties and homework to the CHP, and expressed its expectations and its gratitude for the CHP’s practices up until now,” Bahçeli said.

The MHP will continue to support the decisions of the government in the fight against terrorism, “rather than being supporters of the PKK,” Bahçeli said.