Abraham George, the India-born chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, has ignited controversy after defending comments by a GOP candidate who called a Hindu temple statue a "false god," stating that "there is only one God, and that is Jesus Christ."
The controversy centers on remarks made by Texas GOP leader Alexander Duncan about a 90-foot Hanuman statue in Sugar Land. When asked to comment on Duncan's statements, George said he saw nothing wrong with them. "As an individual and a Christ follower who was born in India to a Pentecostal preacher's family, I agree with him that Christians need to be concerned about idols and false gods," George stated.
"There is only one God, and that is Jesus Christ Himself. The commandments are clear: you shall not have any other god, and you shall not worship idols. I know it is not politically correct, but I honestly don't care," he added.
The two-month-old post resurfaced as political commentators analyze Republican losses in recent elections in New York, New Jersey, and Virginia. Several observers have concluded that anti-Hindu rhetoric may have contributed to these defeats, with Indian-American voters reportedly moving away from Republicans toward Democrats.
Hindu groups have criticized what they view as hypocrisy in George's position. "Chairman of the Republican Party in Texas is an Indian Christian, Abraham George. He is against idol worship. Meanwhile in India, Christians have erected giant idols of Jesus. Idols of Jesus in India ok but not Hindu gods in Texas? Hypocrisy much?" one Hindu organization posted on social media.
The controversy comes amid growing tensions within the Republican Party over its stance toward Hindu Americans. Several GOP leaders have recently expressed anti-Hindu sentiments, creating a political flashpoint. The issue gained additional attention after Vice President JD Vance said he would like to see his wife Usha Vance, who is Hindu and of Indian origin, convert to Christianity. Vance later clarified that while Usha has no intention of converting, his wish reflects what "every true Christian wants."
The episode highlights the delicate balance political parties must maintain in addressing religious diversity within their coalitions. With the Indian-American community representing a growing voting bloc, the Republican Party faces questions about how such rhetoric might affect its electoral prospects. Critics argue that tolerating or endorsing anti-Hindu statements risks alienating an important demographic that has historically been open to supporting both major parties based on policy positions rather than strictly partisan loyalty.
The incident also raises broader questions about religious freedom and pluralism in American political discourse.
