Social unity is must for the development of the country, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar said and expressed deep concern over the potential for Manipur-like disturbances in Maharashtra, though he did not specify why he thought so, reported news agency PTI.

Addressing the Social Unity Conference on Sunday evening, Pawar also criticised the Centre's handling of the ethnic strife in Manipur, which has killed more than 200 persons since May last year.