Day after a Congress delegation met Governor Shivraj Patil on the issue, Akali Dal leaders Harcharan Singh Bains and Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal came out in government's defence today.
"The case is being pursued vigorously and in limited timeframe the progress in the case is at an unprecedented scale," Bains said, claiming that police was close to arresting the prime accused.
Admitting that there was a "delay" on part of the government in nabbing the accused, Grewal, however, said that it was due to the reasons that were "beyond control".
"All accused have gone out of state's territory. Other state government's have been taken into confidence," he said.
Rebutting Congress Legislative Party leader Sunil Kumar Jakhar's charges that Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was "shielding" the culprits, Grewal termed the allegations as "baseless and unfounded".
"You can't blame a person without concrete evidence," Grewal said, accusing Congress of "creating hurdles" in the process of investigation.
Also Read
The 15-year-old girl, a class tenth student, was kidnapped at gunpoint on September 24 in full public view by his alleged abductor Nishan Singh.
Thirteen accused have so far been arrested in connection with the case, whereas prime accused Singh is still at large.
Following a public outcry, three senior police officials, including DIG Ferozepur range P S Umranangal, were transferred by the government.