Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated India's Paralympians in Mann Ki Baat while adding that the government will work to further empower them. The 19-member Indian contingent had returned home from the Rio Paralympics with two gold medals, one silver and one bronze. Mariyappan Thangavelu (men’s T42 high jump) and Devendra Jhajharia (men’s F46 javelin throw) had won gold in their respective events, with the latter setting a new world record in the process.

Deepa Malik (women’s F53 shot put) and Varun Singh Bhati (men’s T42 high jump) had bagged a silver and bronze respectively. “It was a delight to meet the Indian contingent that made our nation proud at the #Paralympics#Rio2016,” PM Modi wrote on his official twitter handle. “With the medal winners. Kudos to their efforts & accomplishments,” the PM wrote earlier, along with a picture with the four medallists.

"Athletes at the Rio Paralympics have made the country proud. India won 4 medals in all, including 2 gold," he said. “With the champion, @DevJhajharia. We can learn a lot from his life & determination,” he said about Jhajharia who has now become the most successful Indian Paralympian with two gold (the other at 2004 Athens Paralympics). “Mariyappan Thangavelu has captured India’s imagination. Delighted to meet him,” he wrote, “Varun Singh Bhati is a superb athlete. Was great to learn about his experiences at the #Paralympics,” said another tweet.