Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş admitted that his brother Nurettin Demirtaş is a member of the outlawed PKK and is in Iraq's Qandil Mountains after being subjected to a slew of criticism by ruling party officials who accuse the leader of being a hypocrite as they say he supports democracy and freedoms on one side and is arm in arm with a terrorist organization when it comes to gaining votes in the east."If, my brother, Nurettin Demirtaş, is currently not beside his family, it is not our fault. It is because, they tell us not to be engaged in politics here," Demirtaş said, explaining his brother's membership in the PKK.The HDP, which is vying to pass the hurdle of the 10 percent election threshold to enter Parliament as a party has adopted democratic rhetoric on the campaign trail to drum up support from voters in western Turkey. The HDP which needs to surpass the 10 percent threshold, which many believe is unlikely, is seeking votes from the Alevi community as well as democrats and, therefore, has refrained from only speaking to its Kurdish base's issues during the campaigning. Officials from the ruling party, however, have been accusing the leader for hypocrisy, claiming the party is backed by and receives directions from the PKK. They have been citing reported threats on locals in eastern provinces by the PKK not to vote for any party other than the HDP and his brother being a member of the PKK. Speaking in an exclusive interview live on CNN Turk, Demirtaş broke his silence over the matter and said that his brother is part of the PKK and is in the camps of the group, which still has not laid down arms despite the reconciliation process the government is pursuing with the HDP to end the decades-long conflict between the state and the PKK. Demirtaş, however, put the blame of his brother being in the mountains on the government, citing a "lack of will by the government" for providing the group with a chance for representation on the political platform."My brother was behind bars for 15 years and wanted to enter politics, but he was not permitted [to do so]. He fought against ISIS [Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham]. My brother did not use arms against Turkey," he said, further criticizing the "hurtful" language used by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party).Touching on also the allegations that he is anti-religion, stemming from his remarks that his party considers Taksim to be for workers as the Kabaa is for Muslims and his election vow to close the Presidency of Religious Affairs, Demirtaş defended himself: "I did not say that. I apologize to all Muslims. My Kabaa is also Mecca. My sister wears a headscarf."Demirtaş also reiterated his vow to resign if his party fails to pass the election threshold, during the program.The HDP, which is running in the elections as a party, many believe taking a risk, is in pursuit of gaining at least 10 percent of the vote. The party, which is also carrying out the reconciliation process the government launched in a bid to solve the Kurdish question as a mediator, is building its election campaign to attract more votes from particular target sections that are more likely to vote for them. The HDP recently vowed to close the Presidency of Religious Affairs to appeal to the Alevi community, which is not willing to be attached to the body.