Erdogan extends two-decade rule as Turkey President after win in historic runoff polls
Istanbul: Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday appealed to the people to maintain national unity, after winning a historic election and retaining the seat till 2028.
Erdogan won with a 52 per cent majority in the elections, beating his secular opposition challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu by four per cent points.
Erdogan, aged 69 years, has been President of Turkey for two decades and overcame the nation’s worst economic crisis in a generation. He also faced the most powerful opposition alliance against his party, which is rooted in Islam, while fighting the election, reports NDTV.
People expressed their delight at the President’s victory, coming out on the streets and sounding their jubilation.
With huge crowds of supporters gathering all over Turkey, the traffic on Taksim Square, a major point in Istanbul, came to a halt.
Erdogan, meanwhile, led a horde of supporters in celebratory song outside his palace in Ankara.
The President told the crowd that was chanting and waving flags, “We should come together in unity and solidarity. We call for this with all our heart.”
Seventeen-year-old Nisa Sivaslioglu said, “Our people chose the right man. I expect Erdogan to add more to the good things he has already done for our country.”
Messages of congratulation also poured in from across the world.
US President Joe Biden tweeted, “I look forward to continuing to work together as NATO Allies on bilateral issues and shared global challenges.”
UN head Antonio Guterres said through a spokesperson that he ‘looked forward to further strengthening the cooperation between Turkiye and the United Nations’.
Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, said that the outcome of the elections reflected the support from the people for Erdogan’s efforts to strengthen the sovereignty of the nation and to pursue an independent foreign policy.
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky expressed a hope of continuing to work with Erdogan ‘for the security and stability of Europe’.
Other leaders from across the world, including former US President Donald Trump congratulated Erdogan on his victory.
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KC Venugopal says government should have acted with “sensitivity” in B’luru demolition drive
Bengaluru: Senior Congress leader and AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal has expressed regret over the manner in which the Karnataka government’s demolition drive in Kogilu village was carried out, saying the action should have been undertaken with greater caution and “compassion,” according to a tweet on Friday.
The demolition operation, led by the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) in Yelahanka’s Kogilu village, razed more than 200 homes and structures in Fakir Colony and Waseem Layout in the early hours of December 20 as part of an anti-encroachment drive. Authorities say the land was illegally occupied and has been earmarked for public infrastructure purposes, including waste management facilities. Residents and activists, however, allege that the action was executed without adequate notice or rehabilitation plans, leaving hundreds of families homeless and sparking protests in parts of the city.
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In his social media post, Venugopal said he had spoken to Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister of Karnataka, and D. K. Shivakumar, Deputy Chief Minister, regarding the demolition. He conveyed the All India Congress Committee’s “serious concern” that the operation should have been conducted with more sensitivity and that the human impact on affected families should have been central to planning.
Venugopal quoted the assurances he received from both leaders that they would “personally engage with the affected families,” establish a mechanism to address grievances, and “ensure rehabilitation and relief” for those impacted by the clearances.
Local residents and advocacy groups had criticised the drive for a lack of prior notice, claiming they were not given adequate time or information to vacate, despite living in the area for many years. Some said they held official identity documents and had invested significant resources in building their homes.
