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.