VOI World/ Desk
Paris’s Eiffel Tower was temporarily closed after employees staged a protest over allegations that female staff members were asked to step aside during a private visit by a Hindu religious delegation.
The controversy followed a Saturday visit by around 100 people linked to the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), whose representatives were in France for festivities related to the inauguration of a Hindu temple near Paris.
According to union representatives, female employees were asked to leave their workstations or move out of sight as the delegation passed through, with male employees taking their places. The incident triggered anger among staff, who held a meeting and protest on Monday, leading to the monument’s temporary closure.
A union representative said employees wanted assurances that women would not be treated in a similar manner in the future. Management reportedly apologised to staff over the incident.
Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire said an investigation would be launched to establish what happened. The episode also drew criticism from French political figures, with concerns raised over gender equality and the treatment of women in public spaces.
BAPS said its visit had been arranged at the start of opening hours to minimise disruption because of the size of the delegation. The organisation said that, to its knowledge, no one had been denied access to the Eiffel Tower, while apologising for any “pain or inconvenience” caused.
The incident has now prompted an official investigation as Paris authorities seek to clarify the circumstances surrounding the staff protest and the alleged sidelining of female employees.
