Kolkata, Sep 17 (IANS) Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Thursday stressed on the empowerment of women and favoured more participation by them in politics, saying they were more sincere and difficult to corrupt.

"Our leader Rahul Gandhi stressed on women's empowerment and encouraged them to join politics. He even said in states where there is more participation of women in politics it has yielded good results. He said women are more sincere and difficult to corrupt," a senior woman Congress leader who was present at the Mahila Convention addressed by Gandhi in Howrah quoted him as saying.

Gandhi was on a three-day visit to West Bengal starting Sep 14 to boost the Youth Congress recruitment drive in the state.

He also interacted with family members of slain Congress leaders of the state and assured them of justice once there was change of guard in the state after next year's assembly polls.

"Justice will be given to the families once change is ushered in West Bengal," a Congress leader, was present during Gandhi's interaction with the family members of slain partymen, quoted him as saying.

Families of about 150 people who have been killed in political clashes in last three decades were present at the programme at Sarat Sadan, in Howrah.

"You belong to the greatest martyr family of India. You can feel our pain," said Parinita Singha Roy of South Dinaipur whose brother, a Class 9 student, was killed in police firing in 1994.

Rahul Gandhi gave a patient hearing to their woes and assured them that he would raise the matter with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh so that something could be done for these families.