Alexander Duncan, a republican party leader, opposed the construction of the ‘Lord Hanuman’ statue in Texas, sparking controversy in the United States. This remark is being interpreted in the backdrop of tariff trolling and harsh anti-Hindu and anti-Indian speeches by republican leaders in the past few weeks.
In a post on X, Duncan asked a question as to how the government is allowing the statue of a false god to be installed in Texas. He said that the US is a Christian nation and does not believe in such propaganda. The statue was located in the town of Sugar Land in Texas. He also quoted the bible where it is said that there should only be one god and idol worship should not be promoted, under any circumstances. As per Exodus 20:3-4.
Quoting from Romans 1:25, he said that truth has been traded for a lie, and created things to worship other than the eternal god himself. The Hindu American Foundation slammed Duncan’s statements, calling them anti-Hindu. They have also asked for urgent action and filed a complaint against the party leader. The post also saw a reaction from netizens, as people started pointing out that the American Constitution promotes freedom of religion.
A user commented saying that since Duncan is not Hindu does not mean that worshipping the statue is false. He said that the Vedas were compiled 2000 years ago, even before Christ ever walked on earth. He further added that Duncan should research a religion’s influence on Christianity before mocking it.
The statue, named “The Statue of Union”, will be the tallest Hanuman statue at 90 feet in America, and is the brainchild of Sri Chinnajeeyar Swamiji. Unveiled on 18 August 2024, the statue aims to spread the message of hope, peace, and union that Lord Hanuman signifies for Lord Rama and Mata Sita.
