‘False Hindu God’: Texas Republican Leader Draws Backlash Over Comments On Hanuman Statue

Last Updated:September 23, 2025, 09:46 IST

The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) condemned Duncan’s comments, calling them “anti-Hindu and inflammatory.”

Republican Alexander Duncan’s remarks on the 90-feet Hanuman statue in Texas have drawn ire. (Image: PTI, X)

A Republican leader in Texas is facing strong criticism after his public remarks about a statue of Lord Hanuman in Sugar Land, Texas. In a post on X, Alexander Duncan asked, “Why are we allowing a false statue of a false Hindu God to be here in Texas? We are a CHRISTIAN nation!”

These remarks have sparked reactions from a wide spectrum. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) condemned Duncan’s comments, calling them “anti-Hindu and inflammatory.” HAF has reported Duncan’s remarks to the Republican Party, urging an internal review of the incident. “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 wrote on X.

Others on social media expressed shock and dismay. One user responded, “You are free to believe what you want, but calling somebody else’s beliefs ‘false’ isn’t freedom.”

Another user accused Duncan of narrowing America’s identity: “You didn’t get a say in whether this country is Christian or not – we are many faiths.” Meanwhile, one X user questioned the idea of “Christian nation” status, posting: “Since when do we only allow one religion in a place built on many beliefs?”

The statue in question is the Statue of Union, a 90-foot bronze statue of Hanuman at the Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple, an installation dedicated to symbolising devotion, strength, and unity.

The controversy also points to broader tensions in the US over religious pluralism, immigration, identity, and how public symbols are vetted and accepted by communities with diverse beliefs. For many Hindus in Texas and elsewhere, the Hanuman statue is not just a religious symbol but a cultural marker of belonging.

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