BAPS Hindu Mandir of Paris says an official investigation found no request from the organisation to exclude female employees during a delegation’s Eiffel Tower visit….reports Asian Lite News Desk
BAPS Hindu Mandir of Paris has said an official investigation found no request from the organisation to hide, remove or exclude female employees during a Hindu religious delegation’s visit to the Eiffel Tower.
BAPS, the organisation behind the first traditional Hindu temple in France, issued the clarification after findings of an official investigation into the incident were published.
In a post on X, BAPS said it remained concerned about the employees affected by the events surrounding the delegation’s visit and reiterated its position that it had not sought the exclusion of women from the visitor route.
“Following the publication of the official investigation findings concerning our delegation’s visit to the Eiffel Tower, BAPS wishes first to reiterate its concern for the employees affected by the events surrounding the visit,” the organisation said.
BAPS said it had consistently denied making any such request and said the investigation supported its position.
“From the outset, BAPS has consistently stated that it never asked for female employees to be hidden, removed or excluded. The investigation establishes this fact that BAPS made no such request for women to be excluded along the visitor route,” it said.
The controversy followed reports that female employees had been sidelined during the Hindu delegation’s visit to the Eiffel Tower.
According to the investigation findings cited in the matter, a series of miscommunications and operational failures resulted in women being removed or replaced at their assigned posts during the visit.
The incident also prompted a response from Branco-Ruivo, who has headed the Societe d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE) since 2018.
In a message to employees, Branco-Ruivo said he had not instructed staff to remove or replace women in connection with the delegation’s visit.
“I wish to reiterate that at no point did I give any instructions aimed at removing or replacing women within this delegation,” he said.
The findings have placed the focus on how communication and operational decisions surrounding the visit contributed to the incident, while BAPS has stressed that it did not request the exclusion of female employees.
BAPS said it hoped the clarification would help improve understanding of what happened and allow those involved to move forward respectfully.
