Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli will need justice as well, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has said in response to Bahçeli’s criticism of the former’s march to Istanbul in protest of a CHP lawmaker’s arrest.
“It is the first time I have heard that walking is a crime. It is out of the question. On the contrary, we are doing it so that co-existence, peace and restfulness prevail,” Kılıçdaroğlu said in Batıkent, on the outskirts of western Ankara, as he set out on the second day of the “justice march.”
His comment came after Bahçeli strongly criticized the CHP leader for beginning a march from Ankara to Istanbul in protest over CHP lawmaker Enis Berberoğlu’s arrest.
“Justice is not a lost object you find on the road or a treasure you stumble on. Not being aware of this is ignorance,” Bahçeli posted on his official Twitter account on June 15, blaming the party for acting before all judicial avenues had been exhausted.
“The CHP says justice, but it winks at anarchy,” he said, arguing the main opposition is taking a risk of “facing a counter-march,” and thus, possible security problems.
Answering Bahçeli, Kılıçdaroğlu expressed the party’s determination on the mission.
“Mr. Bahçeli should not worry, he will also need justice. We will continue our justice march despite these criticisms,” Kılıçdaroğlu said.
The main opposition leader is set to march 25 days to Istanbul, a distance of around 426 kilometers. He plans to stop every 20 kilometers and spend the night where he has stopped.
After spending his first night in a trailer/caravan in a field near the Batıkent Hippodrome in Ankara, he said the second day was expected to stretch 22 kilometers and that they expected participants from different locations.