Sugar Land, Sep 23: Texas Republican Senate candidate Alexander Duncan has ignited a firestorm of criticism after opposing the installation of a 90-foot statue of Lord Hanuman, known as the Statue of Union, in Sugar Land, Texas.

The statue, located at the Shri Ashtalakshmi Temple, is the tallest Hanuman monument in North America and was unveiled in August 2024.

In a post on X, Duncan wrote: “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 by quoting the Bible’s Book of Exodus, referring to the statue as an “idol” and reinforcing his stance that America should uphold Christian values exclusively.

The remarks were swiftly condemned by civil rights groups and religious freedom advocates. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) called Duncan’s comments “anti-Hindu and inflammatory,” and filed a formal complaint with the Texas Republican Party, urging disciplinary action.

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Social media users also pushed back, reminding Duncan of the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of religious freedom.

The Statue of Union, envisioned by Sri Chinnajeeyar Swamiji, symbolises strength, devotion, and unity—attributes associated with Hanuman’s role in the Ramayana. Its presence was intended to promote peace and spiritual harmony across communities.

Duncan, who is running for the Texas Senate in 2026, has positioned himself as a defender of conservative Christian values and has vowed to “keep Texas true to its roots”.