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Who is Alexander Duncan? Texas Republican ripped by Indian-American entrepreneur for ‘demonic gods’ jibe aimed at Hindus

Texas GOP leader Duncan's disparaging comments about a Hindu temple have drawn criticism from an Indian entrepreneur.

Published on: Jan 11, 2026, 23:05:32 IST
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Texas GOP leader Alexander Duncan has once more incited anti-Hindu animosity by disparaging a Hindu temple in Texas, stating that “this does not belong in Texas.”

Texas GOP leader Alexander Duncan faced backlash for anti-Hindu comments regarding a temple, inciting criticism from Indian communities. (duncanforsenate/website)
Texas GOP leader Alexander Duncan faced backlash for anti-Hindu comments regarding a temple, inciting criticism from Indian communities. (duncanforsenate/website)

In response to a video showcasing the Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple in Sugar Land, where the videographer expressed admiration for the temple's beauty and how it evoked feelings of being in India, Duncan remarked that such temples are unwelcome in Texas.

“This does not belong in Texas! We do not need or want temples in our state that are used to worship false, demonic gods and idols. “You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3,” Duncan stated in a post on X.

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Duncan sparks row with anti-temples remark

This is not the first time that Duncan has sparked a row with his anti-Hindu remarks. Earlier, he faced backlash for labeling Hanuman as a “false god” and denouncing the 90-foot Hanuman statue in Texas.

Duncan's post gained significant traction, with social media users denouncing “idol worship” as malevolent and holding Texas Governor George Abbott accountable for the situation.

“I rebuke these false idols in Texas and proclaim, with the authority of Jesus Christ, that Texas is a Christian state,” one person said.

“It is EVIL in our state,” another wrote.

Alexander Duncan faces backlash from Indian-American entrepreneur

An entrepreneur of Indian descent criticized Duncan's bigotry, stating that if Republicans persist with such attitudes, an increasing amount of money and votes will shift towards the Democrats.

“Thankfully Gov Abbott is not a bigot & bible is not the United States Constitution. Hindu American population in Texas will touch a million in a few years. We vote in high numbers & have high median incomes. Such bigotry will only mean more money and votes will go to Dems. Go on,” Ram Prasad stated on X.

Texas is among the states that have a significant Indian population. Around 960,000 people from the Indian community reside in California, which constitutes 20% of the total Indian population in the United States, estimated at 4.9 million, as per Pew Research.

Other states with substantial Indian populations include Texas with 570,000, New Jersey with 440,000, New York with 390,000, and Illinois with 270,000. The metropolitan areas that host the largest Indian populations are New York with 710,000, Dallas with 270,000, and San Francisco with 260,000.

  • Shweta Kukreti
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Shweta Kukreti

    Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

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