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India Steps Aside as Eiffel Tower BAPS Row Escalates
A group from BAPS visited the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Some tower workers said female employees were moved away during the visit.
They said this happened because of their gender.
The workers protested, and the Eiffel Tower closed for one day.
Paris officials said the reported instructions were unacceptable.
The company operating the tower said the arrangements should not have been accepted.
BAPS apologised and said it was sorry anyone was hurt or inconvenienced.
BAPS also said the visit had been planned with tower staff and that nobody was denied entry.
India said the dispute was between the organisations involved, not a matter for its government.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs called the Eiffel Tower dispute a matter between the entities concerned.
Employees alleged female staff were moved or replaced during a BAPS delegation’s visit.
The Eiffel Tower closed for a day after employees went on strike over the allegations.
SETE acknowledged that conditions limiting interactions with women should not have been accepted.
BAPS apologised, said the visit was coordinated with tower staff, and denied denying anyone access.
- Who
- Eiffel Tower employees, BAPS, SETE, Paris authorities, and India’s Ministry of External Affairs were involved.
- What
- Employees alleged that female staff were sidelined during a BAPS delegation’s visit, prompting a strike and official scrutiny.
- Where
- The incident occurred at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, during a visit linked to BAPS’s Paris-area temple.
- When
- The delegation visited on Saturday; the tower closed on Monday; Indian statements were reported on Tuesday and Thursday.
- Why
- Employees protested alleged gender-based workplace instructions; India said the specific dispute was between the entities concerned.
Employees and public officials
BAPS and Indian government
Treatment of female staff
Employees and public officials
Tower employees and their union said workplace instructions sidelined, replaced, or made female workers invisible because of their gender.
BAPS and Indian government
BAPS apologised for the situation but said the visit was arranged with Eiffel Tower teams to minimise disruption and did not address the allegations as intentional discrimination.
Responsibility for the arrangements
Employees and public officials
Employees and Paris officials said the reported conditions were unacceptable and required investigation.
BAPS and Indian government
SETE acknowledged that the conditions should not have been accepted, while India said the matter was between the organisations concerned and did not involve the government.
Access during the visit
Employees and public officials
The reported restrictions allegedly prevented female employees from moving through or working in certain areas while the delegation was present.
BAPS and Indian government
BAPS said that, to its knowledge, access to the Eiffel Tower was never denied to anyone.
Key facts
- Delegation
- Around 100 people linked to BAPS reportedly visited the Eiffel Tower.
- Work stoppage
- The Eiffel Tower was closed for one day after employees went on strike.
- Allegation
- Female workers were reportedly moved from workstations, replaced by men in some posts, or told to avoid certain areas.
- Operator response
- SETE said the delegation requested arrangements limiting interactions with women and acknowledged that such conditions should not have been accepted.
- BAPS response
- BAPS apologised, said it took concerns seriously, and said the visit was coordinated with Eiffel Tower teams.
- Official response
- India’s Ministry of External Affairs described the specific Eiffel Tower matter as being between the entities concerned.
- Investigation
- Paris Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire said an investigation would be launched.
Quotes
Randhir Jaiswal
Spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs
“The first senior military commander-level flag meeting following those developments was held on September 6 at Vacha, on the Indian side in Arunachal Pradesh, followed by another meeting on September 7 at Damai on the Chinese side.”
wionews.com
“We are aware of the opening of a temple by the BAPS Sanstha in the Paris area. As to the particular issue pertaining to the Tower, this is a matter purely between the entities concerned.”
firstpost.com
Emmanuel Gregoire
Mayor of Paris
“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.”
firstpost.com
BAPS Hindu temple in Paris
BAPS organisation representing the Hindu delegation
“To our knowledge, at no time was access to the Eiffel Tower denied to anyone.”
firstpost.com
Sources
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