• Source:JND
HighLights
  1. Activist Carlos Turcios called Hanuman statue an "invasion."
  2. 90-foot statue in Sugar Land, Texas, drew criticism.
  3. Incident highlights religious freedom and immigration tensions.

A Texas-based MAGA activist and Republican leader, Carlos Turcios, has sparked widespread controversy and backlash after posting a video of a towering 90-foot statue of Lord Hanuman on social media, labelling it as evidence of an "invasion" by "third-world aliens."

Turcios shared footage from the Shri Ashtalakshmi Temple in Sugar Land, Texas, where the massive Panchaloha Abhaya Hanuman, also called the "Statue of Union", stands as one of the tallest Hindu monuments in the United States and the third-largest statue overall in the country.

Unveiled in 2024 under the guidance of Sri Chinnajeeyar Swamiji, the statue symbolises strength, devotion, and peace, serving as a spiritual hub for the local Hindu community.

In his post on X, Turcios wrote, "This is not Islamabad, Pakistan, or New Delhi, India. This is Sugar Land, Texas. Third World aliens are slowly taking over Texas and America. Why is the third-largest statue in the US this??! Stop the INVASION!"

He included a video clip and emphasised the need to halt what he portrayed as cultural and demographic encroachment.

ALSO READ: Are Indians Taking Over Texas? H-1B Visa Row Sparked Wild Claim At Council Meeting

Lawmaker faces backlash online

The remarks quickly drew sharp criticism online, with many accusing Turcios of xenophobia, racism, and ignorance of America's religious freedoms and immigrant contributions. Social media users defended the statue and the Hindu community, noting that it is on private property funded by devotees and poses no threat.

Notably, this was not the first time the statue of a Hindu god has faced criticism in the US. The incident echoes earlier criticism from Texas Republican Alexander Duncan, who called it a "false statue of a false Hindu God" in a Christian nation earlier last year.

ALSO READ: 'False Hindu God' In CHRISTIAN Nation? US Lawmaker's Controversial Remarks Over Texas Hanuman Statue Sparks Massive Backlash

Despite facing similar backlash, no apology or clarification from Turcios has been reported, and the post amplified debates on immigration, H-1B visas, sometimes linked to Indian professionals, and cultural integration in America.

For the Indian-American and Hindu diaspora, the episode highlights ongoing tensions around religious expression and acceptance in diverse communities. Temple officials describe the monument as a beacon of unity and peace, not division.

WATCH: Innaguration ceremony of 'Statue of Union'


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