Paralympic Games winner Deepa Malik joins BJP

Famous para-athlete Deepa Malik on Monday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in the presence of the party's Haryana unit chief Subhash Barala, and general secretary Anil Jain, who is in charge of its affairs in the state.

Deepa Malik is the first Indian woman to win a medal in Paralympic Games. The BJP claimed that her presence will strengthen the organisation.

"We welcome her into the party. She is an inspiration for all of us. She has made the country proud," Jain said.

"The work that PM Modi has done for women empowerment and his thoughts towards women, is evident. He has put women in leading portfolios, he has also worked extensively for the 'divyangs'," Malik told news agency ANI after joining the ruling party.

With the BJP yet to announce all its candidates in Haryana for the Lok Sabha elections, Malik may be in the reckoning for one of the seats, sources said.