Outrage is spreading across the global Hindu community after conservative commentator Alex Stein delivered a mocking speech at a recent city council meeting in Plano, appearing in traditional Indian attire and ridiculing sacred Hindu beliefs.

Stein, wearing a yellow kurta and a red tilak on his forehead, addressed the council in what critics described as a caricature of Indian identity. During his remarks, he mocked Hindu reverence for cows, making sarcastic references to cow urine and cow dung as sacred substances. Several Indian-American residents in attendance reportedly walked out of the meeting in protest as the speech continued.

Videos of the incident quickly circulated across social media platforms, drawing condemnation from Hindu leaders and civil rights advocates in the United States, India, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Community members described the performance as not only offensive but deeply hurtful to practicing Hindus who regard the cow as a sacred symbol of life, sustenance, and non-violence.

The Hindu American Foundation strongly criticized the remarks, calling them “demeaning” and warning that such rhetoric contributes to a climate of hostility toward Hindu Americans. Other advocacy groups said the incident reflects a broader pattern of cultural mockery and religious insensitivity increasingly appearing in public forums.

Leaders from temples and diaspora organizations in cities from Houston to London expressed solidarity with the Plano community, emphasizing that public institutions should be spaces for civic dialogue — not religious ridicule.

The controversy comes amid heightened tensions in parts of Texas over immigration and H-1B visa programs, particularly in suburbs with growing Indian-American populations. Community advocates warn that inflammatory rhetoric about demographic change can embolden public expressions of prejudice.

For many Hindu Americans, the incident is about more than one speech. “When sacred beliefs are mocked in a government setting, it sends a message that our faith is acceptable to target,” one community organizer said. “That is why people are upset — not because of satire, but because of disrespect.”

As calls grow for local officials to address the matter, Hindu organizations worldwide say they are watching closely — urging civic leaders to reaffirm commitments to religious respect and pluralism