New Delhi, March 8 (IANS): On the occasion of the International Women's Day, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi Saturday India can never aspire to be a superpower without empowering its women.

"On the International Women's Day, I want to take this opportunity to congratulate all the women in our country and across the world, who have worked tirelessly to bring the fight for women's empowerment onto the global agenda," Gandhi said.

He said "much more needs to be done to ensure that women have their rightful place in society".

Gandhi, who has often spoken of women empowerment in his speeches, said women must find their place in positions of leadership in politics, business and social spheres.

"As I have often said, India can never aspire to be a superpower without empowering its women. This empowerment must be reflected at all levels," Gandhi said.

He said the government, civil society and the political class have a critical role to play in ensuring that women have the rights and opportunities that propel them forward.

"But more than anything else this is a fight to change mindsets, and in that each one of us - ordinary women and men - have a big role to play. Let us renew our pledge today to bringing about this change in the hearts and minds of people."