Farmers torched their rice fields in protest against the new farm laws introduced by the central government. The act of burning paddy stubble, usually criticized for its environmental impact, became a dramatic gesture of defiance symbolizing farmers’ anger and frustration. Many said they felt betrayed by reforms that they believed would dismantle the minimum support price system and leave them at the mercy of large corporations. The burning fields in Punjab and Haryana, sent a visible and powerful message of dissent, reflecting the intensity of rural discontent spreading across northern India.