90-Foot Hanuman Statue Texas
A 90-foot statue of Lord Hanuman in Texas has become the centre of a political and religious controversy ahead of the US midterm elections.
The bronze monument, known as the “Statue of Union”, stands at the Shri Ashtalakshmi Temple in Sugar Land, near Houston. It was consecrated in August 2024 and has been described as one of the tallest monuments in the United States.
The controversy intensified after conservative YouTuber Jesse Hughes shared a photograph of the Hanuman statue on X. He wrote that “when we win, we are tearing this down.” Hughes did not specify what he meant by “win”.
The post triggered strong reactions from Hindu groups and individuals. US Army veteran Ruchir Bakshi criticised the statement and said targeting a place of worship because of the faith practised there raises concerns about religious freedom.
Bakshi describes himself as an American Hindu and has spoken publicly about concerns over anti-Hindu hostility in the United States.
The Coalition of Hindus of North America, or CoHNA, supported Bakshi’s response. Carl Wheless, a Texas-based US Army veteran and political commentator, also expressed support.
The statue stands on private temple grounds. The controversy has therefore also raised questions about religious freedom and the rights of religious communities to maintain places of worship on private property.
The dispute itself predates Hughes’ recent post. According to news agency some Christian conservatives had objected to the statue since its consecration in August 2024, with some describing it as “un-Christian”.
Texas has long been a Republican stronghold and is home to more than 500,000 Indian Americans. As a result, debates involving religion, immigration and the Indian-American community have gained visibility during the state’s election campaign.
The Hanuman statue controversy comes amid other disputes involving rhetoric directed at South Asian Americans. Republican Texas Railroad Commissioner candidate Bo French recently faced criticism after posting a photograph of South Asian students at the University of Texas with a comment about the university’s graduation.
Republican Senator John Cornyn and several other Republican lawmakers criticised French’s post. French later defended his remarks and argued that the University of Texas’ admissions practices disadvantaged Texans.
The Hanuman statue dispute has therefore become part of a wider political discussion involving religion, immigration, cultural identity and the Indian-American community in Texas.
There is no indication in the reports that a government process to remove the statue has begun because of Hughes’ post. For now, the controversy remains primarily a political and social-media dispute.
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