HDP's 'Democracy March': How did AKP, MHP react?

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The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its ally, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), have reacted to the Peoples' Democratic Party's (HDP) "March for Democracy against the Coup," which started after its MPs were dismissed.

AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik asserted that the march was not about "rights, freedom, identity, religion or honour" but about doing what the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) says.

The ruling bloc often accuses the HDP to be the "political extension" of the outlawed PKK.

"Those who want to make the Kurdish youth legionnaires in the PKK exploit the words of peace and democracy," he said in a press briefing after his party's meeting in Ankara, the capital.

"It is known why this type of marches are done. There is no other political mechanism where peace and democracy are exploited so much. When Turkey was removing bans about this, they were watching from the sidelines," eh further said, referring to a "solution process" to the Kurdish question initiated by the AKP in early 2010s.

MHP Chair Devlet Bahçeli said in a written statement that the HDP was "playing with fire" and accused the party of attempting to sabotage the country's internal peace and security.

"They will have to bear the treatment they deserve," he stated, adding that "HDP-PKK-FETÖ and their capricious partners are putschists, criminals and traitors to the homeland and the nation.

He also said that he wondered whether Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the chair of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) would join the HDP. (EKN/VK)