Azad denies using harsh tone during a speech

Srinagar, July 12 (UNI) An official spokesman today termed ''mischievous and motivated'' a media report suggesting that Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had threatened to hang all those creating a wrong impression about him among the people.

He said the statement attributed to Mr Azad while addressing a party convention at Anantnag yesterday was a glaring instance of yellow journalism and far from the truth.

''At no point during his speech lasting more than an hour or brief interaction with journalists did the Chief Minister speak in a threatening tone or used the words attributed to him in the media report,'' the spokesman added.

He said it was unthinkable of a person like the Chief Minister to use such a harsh tone or language against anybody, even political opponents. The spokesman regretted that the ''false and highly motivated report'' circulated without ''caring for objectivity or professional ethics''.

UNI