Justice may be sought in roads but first you should be fair: PM tells CHP head

ISTANBUL

Justice may be sought by walking on the roads on condition that one should be fair, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said on July 8 as he urged the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu to give up his remarks on the 2016 coup attempt calling it a ‘controlled coup.’

“There may be seeking of justice in the roads but first you should be fair. You should give up calling the July 15 victory, which the nation paid the price with their lives, ‘controlled coup.’ The place of justice is the parliament not roads," Yıldırım said commenting on the CHP leader’s ‘justice march’ which is due to end on July 9 in Istanbul with a rally after 25 days.

Kılıçdaroğlu had earlier claimed the failed coup attempt, believed to have been staged by the Fethullahist Terror Organization (FETÖ), was a controlled coup, arguing that the government had not taken necessary measures before the coup occurred even though it knew about the potential of a military move.

Initiated by Kılıçdaroğlu right after the arrest of party deputy Enis Berberoğlu, the 25-day-long march from Ankara to Istanbul, a distance of around 426 kilometers, has seen the participation of thousands of marchers from a wide range of social segments, who say they are standing up for justice regardless of their political stance.  

Earlier on July 8, Kılıçdaroğlu said he would walk alone the distance from the Dragos neighborhood to the rally venue in the Maltepe district.

He also urged participants not to bring any flag or banner other than the Turkish flag, justice placards and Atatürk posters.

"We disapprove anyone to bring or open banners other than these. We evaluate as provocateurs those who do it," Kılıçdaroğlu said.

The CHP leader added that he also does not want the CHP flag at the meeting.