Kolkata/IBNS: Alleging that wrestlers protesting in New Delhi were being repeatedly "harassed and mistreated", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday attended a candlelight vigil here in solidarity with them.

Reiterating that she stands with wrestlers in their fight for justice, Banerjee, who attended the candlelight vigil at the base of the Gostha Pal statue in the city's sports hub Maidan, and said, " My heart goes out to the wrestling protestors, who are repeatedly being harassed and mistreated while they continue their fight for justice. "

Slamming the BJP government at the Centre, the Chief Minister said its "ignorance" towards the wrestlers' plight is "unacceptable".

"BJP Government's ignorance towards their plight is unacceptable. We condemn such injustice meted out to our wrestlers, and we shall continue to fight for their rights," Banerjee averred.

Referring to the detention of the wrestlers on Sunday, she said the sports' global apex body United World Wrestling has strongly condemned the detention of Olympic medallists and threatened the Wrestling Federation of India with suspension.

She claimed the BJP exploited the names of athletes for its gain, but was now abandoning them.

On Wednesday, Banerjee joined a rally in protest against the alleged manhandling of wrestlers at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

Carrying a placard with the message, "We Want Justice", Banerjee took part in the rally, which started from Hazra Road and culminated at Rabindra Sadan.

State Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Aroop Biswas and several sportspersons also joined the rally.