American author Megan Basham sparks controversy with anti-Hindu post comparing church and Ganesh idol — Indian-origin commentator Dinesh D’Souza supports her stance
A major online backlash has erupted after American author and journalist Megan Basham posted a tweet juxtaposing a photo of a Christian church with that of a Ganesh idol immersion, claiming that U.S. immigration policies should not change the country’s culture “from this to this, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.”
Basham, known for her conservative Christian views, captioned the post: “You are biblically allowed to oppose immigration policies that change your country’s culture from this to this.” Her remarks have drawn widespread criticism for promoting religious intolerance and targeting Hindu immigrants.
Basham elaborated that her opposition had “nothing to do with skin color or ethnicity,” but rather with what she described as a rejection of “open pagan idolatry.” She wrote, “It’s about not wanting to encourage a culture of open pagan idolatry in your nation. Everything that is legal is not beneficial.”
In further posts, she added that nations could decide which religious cultures they welcomed, asserting that Christians were “biblically obligated to break those laws in service to a higher law.”
Her tweet quickly drew support from Texas GOP leader Alexander Duncan, who recently stirred controversy by criticising a Hanuman statue installation in Texas. Duncan commented, “Completely agree. We as Christians are called to oppose false gods, idols, evil, etc.”
Basham’s comments about “pagan idolatry” and U.S. culture have ignited outrage online, even as Indian-origin Republican Dinesh D’Souza backed her remarks — deepening the debate on faith and immigration in America
The controversy intensified when Indian-American Republican commentator Dinesh D’Souza publicly supported Basham, posting, “I agree wholeheartedly with this.” His endorsement triggered sharp reactions, with many users calling him out for hypocrisy and forgetting his Indian heritage.
“Dinesh, don’t forget where your ancestors came from and what they were before they converted!” one user wrote, as several others accused him of enabling anti-Hindu rhetoric despite his Indian roots.
The incident comes amid rising anti-Hindu sentiment and cultural debates in the U.S. Earlier, Ohio Governor candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, also of Indian origin, was questioned about his Hindu faith and whether it aligned with leading what was called a “Christian state.” Ramaswamy responded that he followed ethical monotheism within Hinduism, adding, “I’m not running to be Ohio’s pastor.”
The uproar over Basham’s post reflects a growing divide in America’s ongoing culture war, where religion, immigration, and identity increasingly intersect — often at the expense of tolerance and coexistence.
