GUWAHATI: As Nagaland grows impatient over the long drawn out Naga peace process, the Centre has assured the eight groups engaged in the negotiations that announcement of election dates would not hinder signing of the peace accord."In case the Election Commission announces the election dates before the accord is signed, we have been told that since the peace process is a political negotiation, outcome of the Naga peace process will not amount to violation of the model code of conduct," a key talks facilitator said, adding, "The people of Nagaland can't afford to waste any more time."The Naga peace talks centre on the demand for a 'Greater Nagaland' or Nagalim - comprising contiguous Naga-inhabited areas in Assam Manipur and Myanmar. The duration of the ongoing Naga peace talks has been among the longest - the ceasefire pact between the Centre and National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) was signed in 1997.Since then, seven other former militant outfits have joined the peace process - the Konyak faction of NSCN (Khaplang), Government of the People's Republic of Nagaland/NSCN (Kitovi Zhimoni), Federal Government of Nagaland, Naga National Council (parent body), National People's Government of Nagaland of the NNC (NA), NSCN (reformation) and Naga National Council/Government Democratic Republic of Nagaland."The ball is now in the Centre's court ... There are a couple of symbolic issues that the groups have raised, like the flag and a Constitution. The Centre has been discussing these things for the past six months and, each time, the issues are flagged as 'under consideration'. It is about time the Centre convert these to a clear 'yes' or 'no' or give other options if it wants to draw the talks out further," the facilitator said."Something 'under consideration' can remain so for an indefinite period ... The government should make it clear what it considers possible and what is not, and then invite these groups for talks and tell them: 'Here is the deal, take it or leave it'," the facilitator added.While details of the deal being worked out on the basis of the Framework Agreement, signed by the NSCN (I-M) and the Centre in 2015, are still under the wraps, it is certain the agreement will not include "sovereignty"."What is being worked on is something called 'shared sovereignty', under which the identity and culture of the Naga people will be protected by a set of laws which even the Parliament cannot interfere with later. It can be construed as a Naga constitution within the Indian Constitution, the way we have autonomous councils, or states within states, under the Sixth Schedule," the facilitator said.

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