charges including anti-security laws against dissenters, and disproportionate targeting of minorities, including in Jammu and Kashmir 3. In a region of kin states the claims of cross border ethno-religious communities feeds into the rhetoric of fear of ‘proxy citizen’, engage with the minority question regionally and transcend entrapment in local majority–minority dynamics. Situate minority rights claims within the broad based struggle for constitutional values and equal rights of citizens 4. Given that spread of religious orthodoxy of all faiths and the manipulation of religion and politics has grave ramifications for women’s rights and freedoms, recognise the inter-sectionality of oppression of gender and identity in framing advocacy and interventions for minority women.