Staff walked out over allegations female employees were removed during a private Hindu delegation visit, as BAPS denied anyone was barred from the landmark….reports Asian Lite News Desk
The Eiffel Tower was closed on Monday after staff went on strike over allegations that female employees were removed from the landmark during a private visit by a Hindu delegation last week, prompting calls for an investigation from French political leaders.
The controversy centres on a visit by around 100 people associated with the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), who were in France for celebrations surrounding the inauguration of a Hindu temple in the Paris suburbs.
Eiffel Tower employees protested over claims that female staff members were asked to leave or were removed from certain areas during the delegation’s visit. The allegations sparked anger among workers and led to the landmark’s closure for the day.
Paris Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire said an investigation would be launched “as soon as possible”, saying the concerns raised by employees needed to be fully examined.
“I am taking note of the anger expressed by the employees of the Eiffel Tower, and I want to tell them that their discontent is legitimate,” Gregoire said in a post on X.
“It is urgent that all light be shed on the facts that led to this protest,” he added.
French Equality Minister Aurore Berge also reacted strongly, saying that religious beliefs could not take precedence over the country’s laws and principles.
“In France, we do not ask women to erase themselves. No dogma, no religion is above the laws of the Republic,” she wrote on social media.
Far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen also criticised the alleged incident, saying France would “never accept that women’s presence be ‘limited’.”
Amid the growing controversy, BAPS issued a clarification denying that anyone had been deliberately prevented from accessing the Eiffel Tower during the visit.
The organisation said the private trip had been coordinated with the Eiffel Tower’s management and scheduled at the beginning of normal opening hours because of the size of the delegation.
“We respect the concerns raised and take them very seriously,” BAPS said in a statement posted on X.
“Due to the size of our delegation, the visit was arranged in conjunction with the Eiffel Tower team at the start of normal opening hours to avoid disrupting or inconveniencing others.”
BAPS maintained that, to its knowledge, access to the Eiffel Tower had not been denied to any visitor during the delegation’s trip.
“To the best of our knowledge, at no point was anyone prevented access to the Eiffel Tower,” the statement said.
The organisation nevertheless offered an apology to anyone affected by the incident, adding: “We sincerely apologise for any pain or inconvenience caused. We believe in the universal values of mutual respect and service.”
The Eiffel Tower, one of the world’s most visited landmarks, attracts nearly seven million visitors annually. According to a staff representative, the monument is expected to reopen as usual on Tuesday following Monday’s strike.
