The Arkansas secretary of state's office has denied a request from the Universal Society of Hinduism to place a privately funded Hindu statue on Capitol grounds.
The Arkansas Legislature passed a law this year to place a privately funded Ten Commandments statue on Capitol grounds. Several other groups, including The Satanic Temple, have since asked to erect statues at the Capitol.
Hindu society president Rajan Zed said Friday the group wanted to place a statue of Lord Hanuman at the Capitol because of the substantial number of Hindu residents in the state. He says the group is considering taking its request to Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson.
A secretary of state spokesman did not immediately return a phone call for comment. The denial letter tells Zed to seek legislative approval instead.