Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has expressed deep concern over the potential for Manipur-like disturbances in Maharashtra and called for maintaining social unity for the development of the country.
Addressing a Social Unity Conference in Navi Mumbai on Sunday evening, Pawar also criticised the Centre’s handling of the ethnic strife in Manipur, which has claimed several lives since last May.
Pawar didn’t specify the reason for his assessment, however, the remarks come days after he flagged the “rift” among communities over the Maratha-OBC quota tussle and recent criticism by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who dubbed the veteran Maratha politician a “corruption ringleader”.
“The prime minister never felt the need to visit Manipur in the wake of social disturbances in the north-eastern state and console people. In neighbouring states also such incidents occurred, especially in Karnataka where same things happened,” Pawar said.