{
  "id": 6335161,
  "title": "Eiffel Tower women staff ‘sidelined’: BAPS apologises, MEA steers clear",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/eiffel-tower-women-staff-sidelined-baps-apologises-mea-steers-clear",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-08T22:00:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/india/eiffel-tower-women-staff-sidelined-baps-apologises-mea-steers-clear-10869228/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Monday, the Eiffel Tower was closed after a Hindu religious delegation caused tension with their request for women workers to limit interactions. This led to a protest by female employees and an investigation by Paris city authorities. The local trade union accused the company of sidelining female staff due to their gender, replacing them with men, and restricting their movement. The union spokesperson, Diane Davoine, expressed shock and humiliation at the treatment of women workers. The Eiffel Tower's management apologized, and the Paris Mayor, Emmanuel Grégoire, condemned the exclusion of women workers, stating that such conditions are unacceptable. The Ministry of External Affairs clarified that this issue is a matter between the Eiffel Tower and the Hindu delegation. BAPS, the religious organization behind the delegation, apologized for any inconvenience caused and reiterated their belief in mutual respect and equality.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Eiffel Tower closed due to Hindu delegation's request for women staff restrictions",
    "Female employees protested, trade union accused company of sidelining women",
    "BAPS apologized, MEA steered clear of the issue"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Local France",
        "title": "Eiffel Tower closes as staff strike over exclusion of women during VIP visit",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/eiffel-tower-closes-as-staff-strike-over-exclusion-of-women-during",
        "published": "2026-09-07T15:03:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "What is BAPS, the Hindu group whose demands led to Eiffel Tower closure?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/what-is-baps-the-hindu-group-whose-demands-led-to-eiffel-tower-closure",
        "published": "2026-09-08T15:21:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "Eiffel Tower scandal: How a Hindu sect’s visit sparked an uproar in France",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/eiffel-tower-scandal-how-a-hindu-sects-visit-sparked-an-uproar-in",
        "published": "2026-09-08T17:26:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "Paris probes why women staff removed from Eiffel Tower for Hindu visit",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/paris-probes-why-women-staff-removed-from-eiffel-tower-for-hindu-visit",
        "published": "2026-09-08T20:19:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express - India",
        "title": "Eiffel Tower women staff ‘sidelined’: BAPS apologises, MEA steers clear",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/eiffel-tower-women-staff-sidelined-baps-apologises-mea-steers-clear-6336745",
        "published": "2026-09-08T22:00:26.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}