Adil Karaismailoğlu, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, admitted that disabled citizens' free travel rights were restricted and train tickets were sold. According to Karaismailoğlu, on the High Speed Train (YHT), where an average of 100 thousand disabled people traveled free of charge per month before the epidemic, an average of 120 disabled people were provided free travel during the epidemic period.
Mustafa Mert Notcin, according to the news in BirGün, CHP Deputy Utku Çakırözer prepared a parliamentary question on the limitation of the free travel right given to disabled citizens for YHT and other intercity train services, with the request of Minister Karaismailoğlu to answer. In the response of Karaismailoğlu to the parliamentary question, it was accepted that the free travel right of disabled passengers was restricted. The minister also confirmed that tickets were sold for a fee to the disabled, whose right to free travel was taken away.
The statistics Karaismailoğlu shared, on the other hand, revealed a striking situation in terms of the free travel right of the disabled. Karaismailoğlu noted that between the dates of 29 July 2019 and 28 July, 782 thousand 650 disabled citizens took advantage of free YHT train services. He noted that the number of disabled citizens benefiting from free flights between 28 May and 28 July this year is only 241. Before the epidemic, an average of 100 thousand disabled citizens per month benefited from free travel, while it was noteworthy that a total of 241 disabled people benefited from this service in June and July.
Disabled people cannot be taken away from free travel rights granted by law.
Claiming that Karaismailoğlu's response was full of contradictions, CHP Çakırözer said:
“In one paragraph, 'We restricted the right to free travel for the disabled', another paragraph says, 'Disabled people can buy and travel free tickets'. Finally, he says, "They can buy paid tickets according to their own declaration." Why would a disabled brother who is entitled to free travel buy tickets with money? Because you have restricted that right. Our citizen, who has to take that train, is obliged to give his money and buy a ticket, although he has the right to travel free of charge. The right of free travel granted to our disabled citizens by law cannot be taken away arbitrarily. "
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