The 90‑foot statue of Lord Hanuman was consecrated at Asthalaxmi Temple in Sugarland, Texas, in August 2024, making it the tallest Hindu statue in the United States.
Hughes’s post, which threatened to tear down the statue when the GOP wins, ignited immediate backlash from Hindu American communities. Ruchir Bakshi, a U.S. Army veteran, called the remarks "unpatriotic" and a "threat against Hinduism," while the Coalition of Hindus of North America posted a statement condemning the call.
The incident comes amid a wave of racially charged rhetoric from Texas politicians. Republican nominee for Railroad Commissioner Bo French recently posted a photo of a University of Texas football match and likened the event to a "problem" involving South Asian heritage students, prompting criticism from Senator John Cornyn and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
In response, Texas House Speaker Austin Kelly has convened a special committee to review the post under the state’s hate‑speech laws, and the Texas Department of Justice has opened a preliminary investigation.