A look at the headlines right now:

  1. BJP promises farm loan waivers, separate agriculture budget in Karnataka election manifesto: Earlier in the day, the party’s election candidate for Jayanagar, BN Vijayakumar, died after suffering a cardiac arrest.
  2. At least ten people killed in thunderstorms in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana: More than 100 died and dozens were injured as squalls and sandstorms hit parts of North India.
  3. United States warns China of consequences for militarisation in disputed South China Sea: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said the country was involved in peaceful construction of in the region.  
  4. OYO Rooms’ manager arrested for allegedly raping guest in Gurugram: The accused, who worked as a demand manager with OYO Rooms, has been suspended, the company said.  
  5. Karnataka says it cannot comply with Supreme Court order to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu: Water Resources Minister MB Patil said the storage level in four reservoirs was not enough even to fulfil Karnataka’s own needs.
  6. Supreme Court says preliminary inquiry ‘not a must’ for complaints filed under the SC/ST Act: However, the top court refused to issue an interim stay on its March 20 order prohibiting the arrest of a public servant without investigation.  
  7. Hotelier who allegedly killed Kasauli official arrested from Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura: Vijay Singh Thakur was reportedly found at a temple.  
  8. UP CM Adityanath says Jinnah divided India and should not be celebrated: The Uttar Pradesh chief minister’s comments came after clashes over a portrait of the founder of Pakistan at the university.
  9. Kolkata Police arrest man who allegedly ran meat supply racket: The police said they are interrogating the accused to find out if any influential person had helped him.  
  10. China scraps import tariff on 28 drugs, envoy says it will help India’s pharmaceutical industry: Chinese ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui said the country ‘welcomed’ Indian businesses in China.