I never delivered racial statements - Yusuf Simick

Yusuf Simick today denied that he never delivered any statements on the Gorkha community, as published in one of the vernacular dailies on February 13, 2013.“Everybody knows that I cannot deliver such comments which is against any community”, said Simick to the reporters on Saturday, claiming that being Damber Singh Gurung’s grandson he is a true Gorkha.He appealed that such rumors should not be made a big issue. Further, he said that the political leaders who are condemning the said statement should have atleast called him once to know the truth.“Postering was conducted at various places against me, and I am saddened by it. The public are asking apology for something which I have never said”, expressed Simick.He said that he is even thinking of filing a defamation case against the newspaper. Further he said that he is ready to quit Lepcha Development Council (LDC) if it’s needed and if it proves to be a hindrance for the separate state formation. Likewise, LS Tamsang, the Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association President (ILTA) and NT Lepcha, the Joint Secretary of ILTA said that Simick who is connected with NGOs can never deliver such kind of racial comments.

By Mukesh Sharma