Eiffel Tower Closure Sparks Row Over Women Staff’s Role During Hindu Group Visit

The Eiffel Tower was temporarily closed to visitors on Monday after employees protested over allegations that female staff were asked to step aside during a private visit by a Hindu religious delegation linked to BAPS.

The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday when around 100 members of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) visited the Paris landmark. According to union representatives, female employees were instructed to leave areas where they were working as members of the delegation passed through, with male colleagues taking their positions.

“As the delegation passed through, women were asked to leave their workstations so that men could take their places,” union representative Diane Davoine told Reuters.

The delegation was visiting France as part of events surrounding the inauguration of a major BAPS Hindu temple near Paris.

The incident triggered anger among Eiffel Tower employees over the weekend. Workers held a meeting on Monday to discuss the allegations and demand assurances that female staff would not be treated differently because of their gender.

The monument’s opening was delayed during the protest, with notices informing visitors that the delay was due to “operational reasons”. According to the union, management apologised to employees following the incident.

Eiffel Tower operator admits visit conditions should not have been accepted

The Eiffel Tower’s operator, SETE, acknowledged that the delegation had requested arrangements aimed at limiting interactions with female employees.

SETE said such conditions should not have been accepted and confirmed that an investigation would be conducted to establish exactly what happened.

SETE President Ariel Weil said the company would examine the circumstances surrounding the visit and take appropriate action based on its findings.

The CGT trade union condemned the alleged instructions, describing them as workplace measures that resulted in female employees being sidelined because of their gender.

BAPS denies awareness of any access restrictions

BAPS has said the visit was coordinated with Eiffel Tower authorities in advance to minimise disruption and allow normal public access.

In a statement posted on X, the organisation said the delegation’s visit had been scheduled in consultation with the Eiffel Tower management and timed around the beginning of regular opening hours.

BAPS said it was not aware of any situation in which visitors were prevented from entering the monument during the visit.

The organisation nevertheless expressed regret over the controversy and apologised to anyone who may have felt hurt or inconvenienced. It said it remained committed to mutual respect and service and was taking the concerns raised seriously.

Paris authorities order probe

The controversy has prompted a political response in France, with Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire ordering an investigation into the allegations.

Grégoire said employees’ concerns were legitimate and that the reported circumstances were unacceptable. He stressed that people must be able to work and move freely without discrimination based on gender.

The mayor said the circumstances surrounding the staff protest needed to be fully clarified and pledged to ensure that gender equality was respected across Paris, including at major public landmarks.

France’s National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet also criticised the reported treatment of female employees.

She said she would not accept women being asked to step aside to accommodate the demands of foreign visitors, stressing that welcoming visitors should not require France to compromise its principles of equality.

BAPS temple inaugurated near Paris

The controversy comes shortly after BAPS inaugurated its first major Hindu temple in France near Paris on Sunday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the inauguration and said the temple would help take India’s ancient ideas and human values to France while strengthening cultural ties between the two countries.

The Eiffel Tower incident has now triggered a wider debate in France over workplace equality, religious sensitivities and the limits of accommodation for visiting religious or cultural groups. The investigation by SETE and Paris authorities is expected to establish how the arrangements were made and who authorised them.