India, Aug. 14 -- Pinarayi Vijayan; Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly criticised the Centre's Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 on Friday, Aug 14 alleging that it violated the federal principles guaranteed by the Constitution and undermined the rights of states over mineral resources.

In a Facebook post, the senior CPI(M) leader said the bill sought to prevent state governments from imposing additional taxes or cess on mining rights and land containing mineral resources, calling it an "encroachment" on the interests of states.

He said land and its resources fall under the State List under Entry 18 of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, and alleged that imposing central control over them...