Texas Republican leader Alexander Duncan, a Senate candidate, has triggered controversy by calling Lord Hanuman a “false Hindu God” and questioning the presence of a 90-foot Hanuman statue in Sugar Land, Texas. Known as the Statue of Union, this monument is located at the Shri Ashtalakshmi Temple.
Duncan posted on X (formerly Twitter):
“Why are we allowing a false statue of a false Hindu God to be here in Texas? We are a CHRISTIAN nation!”
He followed up with a quote from the Bible (Exodus 20:3-4), which forbids making idols, asking:
“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.”
The comments drew a sharp backlash:
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The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) condemned Duncan’s remarks as “anti-Hindu and inflammatory”, and filed a formal complaint with the Texas Republican Party, urging them to take action.
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On social media, many users pointed out that the U.S. Constitution grants the freedom to practice any religion, and criticised the statement as disrespectful.
Some context about the statue:
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The Statue of Union was unveiled in August 2024.
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At 90 feet tall, it is among the tallest Hanuman monuments in the United States and is located in Sugar Land, Texas.
