3 days ago
Probe Finds BAPS Made No Request to Exclude Eiffel Tower Women
An investigation looked into what happened when a group from BAPS visited the Eiffel Tower.
It found that BAPS did not explicitly ask for women workers to be excluded.
The original message was about avoiding physical contact between religious figures and women.
As the message passed between managers, it changed and was misunderstood.
Some women were temporarily moved from their jobs or replaced.
Workers protested, and the tower closed for one day.
The tower’s operator said mistakes in its operations led to women being sidelined.
Its chief said he did not order their removal and is expected to leave by the end of 2026.
A Paris investigation found no explicit request from BAPS to exclude women from the Eiffel Tower visitor route.
The investigation said an instruction about avoiding physical contact was distorted as it passed through management.
Some female employees were temporarily moved from their posts or replaced during the delegation’s September 5 visit.
Eiffel Tower employees represented by the CGT union protested, prompting a strike and a day-long closure on September 7.
SETE described operational failures as unacceptable; its chief Patrick Branco Ruivo denied ordering women’s removal and is set to leave by the end of 2026.
- Who
- BAPS, Eiffel Tower employees represented by the CGT union, and the tower operator, Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE).
- What
- A Paris investigation found no explicit BAPS request to exclude women, but concluded that internal communication failures led some female employees to be moved or replaced.
- Where
- The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.
- When
- The delegation visited on September 5; employees struck and the tower closed on September 7. Patrick Branco Ruivo is due to leave by the end of 2026.
- Why
- The controversy followed the temporary removal or replacement of female staff during the delegation’s visit, after a message about avoiding physical contact was distorted internally.
BAPS and Investigation Findings
Employees and Union Concerns
Whether BAPS requested women’s exclusion
BAPS and Investigation Findings
BAPS said it never asked for women to be hidden, removed or excluded, and the investigation found no explicit request from the delegation.
Employees and Union Concerns
Employees and the CGT union said female staff were sidelined, replaced and rendered invisible during the visit.
Responsibility for staff being moved
BAPS and Investigation Findings
BAPS said the investigation clarified that it had made no request to exclude women. Patrick Branco Ruivo said he did not instruct staff to remove or replace them.
Employees and Union Concerns
The investigation attributed the incident to distorted internal communication and operational failures at the Eiffel Tower operator.
Key facts
- Delegation
- Nearly 100 people associated with BAPS visited the Eiffel Tower.
- Visit date
- September 5.
- Investigation
- The General Inspectorate of the City of Paris reportedly found no explicit request from the delegation to exclude women.
- Internal communication
- The initial message concerned avoiding physical contact between religious figures and women; the investigation said it was distorted as it passed through management.
- Staff impact
- Some female employees were asked to leave their posts temporarily or were replaced.
- Strike and closure
- A staff strike led to a day-long Eiffel Tower closure on September 7.
- SETE leadership
- Patrick Branco Ruivo, SETE’s director general, is set to leave by the end of 2026.
Quotes
BAPS Hindu temple in Paris
BAPS temple organization near Paris
“The city of Paris had nominated an independent agency — the Inspector General of the city of Paris — which conducted a completely neutral investigation, and BAPS has a clean chit. They (BAPS) never asked for the removal [of female staff]. Authorities have mentioned that the probe clears BAPS.”
indianexpress.com
“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.”
deccanchronicle.com
businesstoday.in
thehansindia.com
Patrick Branco Ruivo
Director General of the Eiffel Tower operator SETE
“I wish to reiterate that at no point did I give instructions aimed at removing or replacing women along the route of this delegation.”
businesstoday.in
thehansindia.com
The investigation
The internal investigation into the Eiffel Tower visit
“Through word of mouth, the message was distorted”
businesstoday.in
Sources
Probe Confirms BAPS Didn't Ask Eiffel Tower to Remove Women During Visit
Eiffel Tower BAPS controversy: Probe finds message was distorted, no explicit request to exclude women
Eiffel Tower Controversy Takes A Turn: BAPS Says Probe Confirms It Did Not Ask For Exclusion of Women Staff
BAPS says probe found no request to exclude women during Eiffel Tower visit
Eiffel Tower row: ‘Never asked for removal of female staff’, says BAPS monk
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