‘False Hindu God’ in a Christian nation: US leader’s remark on Lord Hanuman statue in Texas triggers row

A Republican leader in the US city of Texas stirred a massive controversy with his remarks on a Lord Hanuman statue installed in Sugar Land, Texas, on the premises of Shri Ashtalakshmi Temple.

Alexander Duncan, a Republican leader from US President Donald Trump’s party, questioned the Lord Hanuman statue in a Christian nation.

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“Why are we allowing a false statue of a false Hindu God to be here in Texas? We are a CHRISTIAN nation,” Duncan wrote on X, sharing a video of the statue.

In another post, he shared the Bible’s Exodus 20:3-4, saying: “You must not have any other god but me. You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.”

His remarks prompted sharp criticism from several religious freedom advocates, with the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) slamming his comments as “anti-Hindu and inflammatory”.

HAF also sought disciplinary action against Duncan for showing anti-Hindu hate.

“Hello @TexasGOP, will you be disciplining your senate candidate from your party who openly contravenes your own guidelines against discrimination—displaying some pretty sordid anti-Hindu hate—not to mention disrespect for the 1st Amendment’s Establishment Clause?” the HAF said on X

A social media user also schooled the Republican leader, stating that the Vedas, the sacred Hindu texts, were written 2000 years before Jesus walked the earth.

“Just because you’re not Hindu doesn’t make it false. The Vedas were written almost 2000 years before Jesus walked the earth and are extraordinary texts. And there’s obvious influences on Christianity…so it would be wise to honor and research the ‘religion’ that predates and influences yours,” he wrote.

The Lord Hanuman statue, also hailed as the Statue of Union, was unveiled in 2024.
It is the third-tallest statue in the United States at present.