Protests continued across India Monday over proposed legislation (CAB) that would allow religious minorities persecuted in neighboring countries to seek citizenship but would exclude Muslims.

Protests have become violent, with six killed, and dozens more injured.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the country to focus on the unity of India and discouraged violent protesting. “Debate, discussion and dissent are essential parts of democracy but, never has damage to public property and disturbance of normal life been a part of our ethos.”

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom spoke in opposition to the bill in a media release. The Commission stated that, “The CAB is a dangerous turn in the wrong direction; it runs counter to India’s rich history of secular pluralism and the Indian Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law regardless of faith.”