Kılıçdaroğlu reminds gov't that he was attacked by PKK to dismiss terror accusations

CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has reminded the government that he is the only political party leader who was attacked by the PKK to dismiss terror accusations. "The society forgets," Kılıçdaroğlu said.

Monday February 22 2021 12:41 pm

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Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has reminded President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) that he is the sole party leader who was attacked by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

"They call us PKK members. I'm the only leader that the PKK attacked," Kılıçdaroğlu said on Feb. 21 in response to the government's recent allegations.

"We barely survived. One soldier was martyred, but the society forgets," the CHP leader noted.

Kılıçdaroğlu's motorcade was subjected to a rocket attack on Aug. 25, 2016 in the Şavşat district of the Black Sea province of Artvin. One soldier was killed in the attack that was later claimed by the PKK.

CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu is seen in a room following the attack on his motorcade in Şavşat in August 2016.

Kılıçdaroğlu's Feb. 21 remarks were in response to the AKP's attempts to link the party to the PKK following the deaths of 13 Turkish nationals, including soldiers, police and intelligence personnel, held captive by the militant group in northern Iraq amid a military operation.

While the government says that the 13 Turks were killed by the PKK, the opposition has been asking who is responsible for the failed rescue operation.

Erdoğan slammed Kılıçdaroğlu for holding him responsible, as the AKP and its Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) target him for "cooperating with" the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) - the party that's under renewed pressure following the recent events.