Kamal Kalchdarlu is the Gandhi of Turkey: Justice march took out 450 km like the Dandi March, and faced attacks
Kamal Kalchdarlu is the Gandhi of Turkey: Justice march took out 450 km like the Dandi March, and faced attacks; Now giving the toughest challenge to Erdogan
There are general elections in Turkey on 14 May. For the first time in the last two decades, the throne of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seems to be shaking. For the first time in political life, he is facing a tough challenge. In front of him is Kamal Kalchdarlu, a 74-year-old former bureaucrat. However, Kamal has now been recognized as the 'Gandhi of Turkey'. The local media calls him 'Gandhi Kamal'.
He wears glasses like Mahatma Gandhi, his political style is also polite. The amazing popularity of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has increased so much that 6 opposition parties have chosen him as their candidate against Erdogan. This alliance has been named 'Table of Six'. Know how an educationist and former public servant has become a noose around Erdogan's neck.
Born in 1948, Kemal studied economics at the Ankara Academy of Economics and Commercial Sciences. After this, he held top positions in the economic and financial institutions of the country. In 2002 he joined the CHP. It is the oldest political party in the country. It was founded by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey.
CHP chief Baikal resigned after the video leak in 2010. Then Kamal was handed over the command of the party. Although they were not willing. He was fighting for civil rights, social justice and democracy, after Erdogan became PM in 2011, Kamal intensified the campaign.
Inspired by Gandhiji's Dandi March, Kamal took out a 'March for Justice' rally from Ankara to Istanbul (450 km) against Erdogan in 2017. According to the New York Times report, more than one million people participated in it. To suppress the protest, Erdogan sent 2 lakh people to jail. All the 372 jails in the country were overcrowded.
Another speciality of Kamal is that he does not become furious. In 2014, a man punched him in the face in Parliament. Due to this, his cheek and eye were injured. But he asked his colleagues to exercise restraint. In 2016 his convoy was attacked with a missile and in 2017 with a bomb by IS. An attempt was made to kill him in 2019 as well.
Kemal is seen as the exact opposite of the autocratic, hardline Erdogan. They have been besieging Erdogan on issues such as ending democratic institutions and controlling the media. He also blamed Erdogan for the earthquake in February and the people being left homeless.
Kamal has promised that he will bring freedom and democracy. He has also resolved to reverse the wrong economic policies of Erdogan. In 2019, he started the mission by winning the mayoral elections in 6 provinces.