Hindu group’s Eiffel Tower visit sparks uproar after female staff sidelined
Politicians from across the spectrum were outraged by the move.
French politicians have expressed outrage over the decision to exclude women from the Eiffel Tower during a visit by a Hindu religious delegation. The incident occurred on Saturday when the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) group booked a private tour of the iconic landmark. Staff representatives reported that female employees were instructed to remain out of view to avoid being seen by the Hindu visitors.
This led to a staff strike on Monday, resulting in the closure of the tower. Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire, a Socialist Party member, tweeted that "gender equality will never stop at the foot of our historic monuments, nor anywhere else in this city." Marine Le Pen, a far-right presidential candidate, emphasized that "in France, we will never accept the limitation of women's presence."
The minister for gender equality, Aurore Bergé, from President Emmanuel Macron's party, called the situation "unacceptable," stating that "no religion is above the law" in France. The BAPS delegation was attending a two-week celebration marking the opening of its first French branch, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed as "a matter of great joy."
The French branch of BAPS issued an apology, stating they were unaware of any instances where individuals were barred from accessing the Eiffel Tower, and expressed regret for any discomfort caused, emphasizing their commitment to mutual respect and service.
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