Eiffel Tower women staff ‘sidelined’: BAPS apologises, MEA steers clear

The Eiffel Tower was closed on Monday after women employees were asked to limit interactions with a Hindu religious delegation visiting the landmark. The Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) delegation made a private visit to the Eiffel Tower on Saturday. Local trade union representative Diane Davoine expressed frustration, stating that women were asked to leave their workstations so that men could take their places.

The Eiffel Tower company acknowledged that these conditions were not in line with their values, promising to draw the necessary conclusions. Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire condemned the exclusion of women workers, calling it unacceptable and contrary to the Eiffel Tower's values. French Equality Minister Aurore Bergé emphasized that gender equality does not stop at the foot of historic monuments.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi stated that the incident is a matter between the Eiffel Tower and BAPS, without commenting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's virtual address to the temple's inauguration in Paris.