Archive · 9 Sep 2026
India Steps Aside From Eiffel Tower BAPS Row
A group connected to BAPS visited the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Some workers said female employees were moved away or told not to enter certain areas while the group was there.
They said some women were replaced by men at certain workstations.
The workers protested, so the Eiffel Tower closed for one day.
Paris officials called the reported instructions unacceptable and said an investigation would be launched.
The company operating the tower said the visit arrangements should not have been accepted.
BAPS apologised and said the visit had been planned with tower staff to avoid disturbing visitors.
India’s foreign ministry said the disagreement was between the organisations involved, not the Indian government.
About 100 people linked to BAPS visited the Eiffel Tower on Saturday during a Paris-area temple-related visit.
Employees and a union alleged that female staff were moved, replaced, or barred from certain areas during the delegation’s visit.
The Eiffel Tower closed on Monday after employees went on strike over the allegations.
SETE said the delegation requested arrangements limiting interactions with women and acknowledged that such conditions should not have been accepted.
BAPS apologised, said the visit was coordinated with tower teams, and India’s MEA called the dispute a matter between the entities concerned.
- Who
- Eiffel Tower employees and their union, BAPS, SETE, Paris authorities, and India’s Ministry of External Affairs were involved.
- What
- A dispute followed allegations that female Eiffel Tower employees were sidelined during a BAPS delegation’s visit, leading to a strike and an investigation.
- When
- The delegation visited on Saturday, the tower closed on Monday, and MEA comments were reported on Tuesday and Thursday.
- Where
- The incident occurred at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, during a visit linked to a BAPS temple in the Paris area.
- Why
- Employees protested alleged gender-based workplace instructions, while India said the specific dispute was between the entities concerned.
Employees and Paris officials
BAPS and Indian government
Treatment of female staff
Employees and Paris officials
Employees and the CGT union said women were sidelined, replaced, or prevented from moving through certain areas because of their gender.
BAPS and Indian government
BAPS apologised for the reported situation and said it was committed to mutual respect, but said the visit was organised with Eiffel Tower teams to minimise disruption.
Acceptability of the arrangements
Employees and Paris officials
Employees and Paris officials said the reported workplace conditions were unacceptable and warranted an investigation.
BAPS and Indian government
SETE acknowledged that the conditions should not have been accepted, while the Indian government declined to treat the issue as a government matter.
Access to the tower
Employees and Paris officials
The allegations indicated that female employees were restricted from working in or crossing some 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.
- Delegation
- Around 100 people linked to BAPS reportedly visited the Eiffel Tower.
- Allegations
- Female workers were reportedly moved from workstations, replaced by men in some posts, or told to avoid certain areas.
- Strike
- Eiffel Tower employees went on strike, leading to a one-day closure on Monday.
- Operator response
- SETE said the delegation requested arrangements limiting interactions with women and acknowledged that the conditions should not have been accepted.
- BAPS response
- BAPS apologised, said it took the concerns seriously, and said the visit was coordinated with Eiffel Tower teams at the start of normal opening hours.
- Official response
- Paris officials described the reported conditions as unacceptable and said an investigation would be launched.
- Indian government response
- MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Eiffel Tower issue was a matter between the entities concerned.
Sources
‘Matter purely between entities concerned’: MEA on Eiffel Tower row over BAPS visit and women staff
‘Matter between them’: Centre steps away from Hindu group-Eiffel Tower row
‘Matter purely between the entities concerned’: India on BAPS-Eiffel Tower row
