It was Yogi's day out in Kerala. Having travelled several kilometres from his home state, Uttar Pradesh, the Chief Minister of the country's largest state, descended on the coastal state to campaign against political killings in the state by alleged CPM cadres.

It was the second day of the two-week long Jan Raksha Yatra that was flagged off by BJP national president Amit Shah yesterday. Yogi Adityanath walked 14 kms from Keecheri in Kannur District, to Kannur town along with several hundred BJP partyworkers. Kannur has been the epicenter of the political clashes between the BJP/RSS cadres and the CPM workers.

"I am here to raise awareness among people about the brutal killings of political workers. There is no place for violence in a democracy. The chief minister's Home constituency (Kannur) has seen maximum killings. Whose responsibility is law and order. The BJP isn't in power in the state," he told India Today exclusively.

Yogi Adityanath's presence in Kerala for the BJP padyatra was heavily criticised by the CPM. They accused the saffron party of using a firebrand Hindutva leader to polarise the religious fabric of Kerala.

When questioned about this allegation by India Today, Yogi Adityanath dismissed it by saying it was part of the CPM's diversionary tactic.

CPIM SLAMS YOGI

Ahead of the UP Chief Minister's arrival, the CPM mocked him and said he is welcome to come and learn from Kerala how to manage hospitals, a reference to the Gorakhpur infant deaths tragedy.

In retort, Yogi Adityanath told India Today,"In fact, CPM should learn a few things. In a state where 300 people die due to dengue, CPM can visit UP's hospitals to know how we deal with vector-borne diseases".

By the evening, however, when the padyatra culminated in a public meeting, Yogi Adityanath had raised the pitch and fallen back on his core strength.

BASE OF HINDU SANATAN DHARMA

Citing the names of saints and sages who've been born in Kerala or built their cult here, Yogi Adityanath said, "Kerala has been the base of Hindu Sanatan Dharma. How did Marxist ideology take birth here? How did a foreign ideology gain inroads here?".

"People give out slogans of secularism and under that garb, allow for jehadi activities. Nationalism is the need of the hour," he added.

While he alleged that BJP/RSS cadres were being targeted for trying to 'protect' the Hindu religion in Kerala, he finally assured the crowds gathered: "This earth won't be 'red' anymore. It will be saffron now."

Also Watch : BJP Jan Raksha Yatra: Why bringing Adityanath to Kerala is an Amit Shah masterstroke.