Washington: The expatriate Hindu community in the US has reacted strongly to comments made by a Republican leader from Texas on a 90-foot statue of Lord Hanuman at the Shri Ashtalakshmi Temple in the city of Sugar Land.
The politician from US president Donald Trump’s party called it the “false statue of a false Hindu God” and invoked the Bible to claim that there can be no idol save for that of Jesus.
The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) has called the statements “anti-Hindu and inflammatory.” The organisation has also formally reported the incident to the Republican Party in Texas, urging it to address the matter.
Republican leader Alexander Duncan took to X and posted: “Why are we allowing a false statue of a false Hindu God to be here in Texas? We are a CHRISTIAN nation.”
His post also carried a video of the statue that is known as the ‘Statue of Union’.
In another post, Duncan quoted the Bible and said: “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.”
The HAF was quick to respond.
“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?”, it posted on X.
Duncan has been called out by several US nationals as well. Some of them reminded the Republican leader that the US Constitution gives them the freedom to practice any religion.
“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,” X user Jordan Crowder wrote.
The ’Statue of Union’ is one of the tallest Hindu monuments in the US. Envisioned by Sri Chinnajeeyar Swami and unveiled in 2024, it is the third tallest statue in that country.
