Texas GOP Candidate Sparks Furor Over 90-Foot Hanuman Statue

Paromita Das

New Delhi, 25th September: In a world purportedly built on liberty and respect for diversity, a disturbing trend is taking root — the normalization of Hinduphobia in the United States. At the forefront of this unsettling wave is Alexander Duncan, a Republican Senate candidate from Texas, who publicly denounced the recently unveiled 90-foot statue of Lord Hanuman in Sugar Land, Texas, as a “false god,” insisting America is a “Christian” nation. This incident exposes deep fault lines in American socio-political discourse, where bigotry cloaked in religious fervor is increasingly directed at one of the world’s oldest civilizations — Hinduism. The implications extend beyond hurt sentiments to challenge America’s own constitutional guarantees and global image as a beacon of pluralism.

The Oldest Civilization Under Fire

Hinduism, rooted in the Vedas dating back over 2,000 years, represents the spiritual and cultural heritage of the world’s oldest continuous civilization. Yet, Alexander Duncan’s incendiary remarks trivialize this ancient faith by branding Lord Hanuman — a revered deity symbolizing strength and devotion — as an idol of falsehood. His claim that America must be solely Christian misconstrues the American constitution, which explicitly separates church and state, guaranteeing freedom of religion for all. The Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple, home to the Hanuman statue, follows lawful procedures; the statue stands on private land with all necessary permissions. Yet Duncan’s words and those of his supporters not only reject these facts but propagate the dangerous idea that Hindu symbols—and by extension Hindus themselves—do not belong in American society.

Why are we allowing a false statue of a false Hindu God to be here in Texas? We are a CHRISTIAN nation!pic.twitter.com/uAPJegLie0

— Alexander Duncan (@AlexDuncanTX) September 20, 2025

This disdain has struck a chord far beyond Texas. His anti-Hindu posts garnered over 43,000 likes on social media, reflecting alarming acceptance of such prejudice among segments of the population. The rhetoric reeks of an exclusionary Christian supremacist narrative that threatens pluralism and freedom of faith, undermining the peaceful coexistence upon which the United States prides itself.

I'm just calling it what it is, an IDOL.

"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." Exodus 20:3-4

"They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they… pic.twitter.com/xGz6oVgGUr

— Alexander Duncan (@AlexDuncanTX) September 22, 2025

Bharat and Hindus in the US: Contributions Overshadowed

The Hindu American community, primarily composed of Bharatiya immigrants, remains one of the most prosperous and law-abiding minorities in the US. These communities contribute immensely across sectors such as information technology, healthcare, science, and academia. Yet, exactly this success seems to fuel resentment among certain groups who feel threatened by Hindu and Bharatiya ascent, finding a scapegoat in their culture and religion.

The rise of Hinduphobia is not isolated to political rhetoric. It intersects alarmingly with anti-Bharatiya sentiments, as seen recently through incendiary online campaigns targeting high-skilled Bharatiya professionals, including attacks on the H-1B visa system used predominantly by Bharatiya. The imposition of a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas, broadly perceived as a backlash against skilled Bharatiya immigrants, dovetails with the surge of religious prejudice, hinting at a coordinated attempt to diminish Hindu influence in the US economy and polity.

Institutionalized Hinduphobia and Its Dangerous Trajectory

Duncan’s outburst is emblematic of a broader, institutionalized Hinduphobia that has metastasized in various forms—from media portrayals and academic programs demonizing caste systems, to hate crimes and vandalism against Hindu temples across the US. Organizations like the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) have sounded alarms, urging political parties to act against such hate speech and reminding the nation of its own anti-discrimination laws and the First Amendment’s protection of religious freedom.

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? https://t.co/5LItlu7Zu2 pic.twitter.com/oqZkZozUBR

— Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) September 22, 2025

The escalation of rhetoric against Hinduism is reminiscent of earlier periods where dehumanizing minorities preceded worse atrocities. It is no coincidence that speech labeling sacred symbols as “demonic” or false often precedes physical acts of vandalism or violence. California, a state with a sizable Hindu population, has witnessed a sharp increase in hate crimes targeting Hindus, ranking second only to antisemitism in religious hate incidents.

America at a Crossroads of Tolerance and Intolerance

America faces a stark choice today—whether to affirm its founding ideals of religious freedom and equality or to slide into the dangerous terrain of religious majoritarianism cloaked in nationalism. Targeting Hindu gods, marginalizing Hindu Americans, and framing a pluralistic society as a “Christian nation” is not just offensive to Hindus; it erodes the pluralistic fabric that has long made America a haven for immigrants of all faiths.

Duncan’s rhetoric, stoked by supporters of the MAGA movement, ironically contradicts the very values of freedom and opportunity he claims to uphold. True American values mean respect for the ancient traditions of Hindus, just as for Christians, Muslims, Jews, and others. Freedom to celebrate diverse faiths is the hallmark of a mature, democratic society.

Rejecting Bigotry to Embrace Pluralism

The hostility against Hinduism in the US, epitomized by Alexander Duncan’s remarks, signals a dangerous normalization of religious intolerance that threatens the country’s constitutional principles and global standing. For the Hindu community and all Americans committed to diversity and mutual respect, this moment calls for a robust defense of religious freedom and a rejection of all forms of hate.

Honoring Hindu civilization means recognizing its profound historical significance and the vibrant contributions of its followers today. Rather than forcing Hindus to wrestle for acceptance, America must reaffirm its commitment to equality under the law—a society where no faith is derided as “false,” and no community is excluded from the American story.

The Hanuman statue in Texas is more than a monument; it is a testament to religious freedom, cultural pride, and the strength of the oldest civilization still thriving in the modern world. America’s future depends on standing by these values, not revising them to suit the narrow ambitions of a few.