A 90-foot statue of Lord Hanuman in Sugar Land, Texas, has become the centre of a fresh political and religious controversy. The statue, known as the Statue of Union, was consecrated at the Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple in August 2024 and is described as one of the tallest Hanuman statues in North America.
The controversy began after conservative YouTuber and MAGA activist Jesse Hughes posted a photograph of the statue on X and said, “when we win, we are tearing this down.” The remarks drew strong criticism from Hindu groups and members of the Indian-American community. US Army veteran Ruchir Bakshi also condemned the statement, saying it threatened a Hindu place of worship.
The issue comes amid broader political discussions in Texas surrounding immigration, religion, cultural identity and the growing Indian-American community ahead of the US midterm elections.
