Eiffel Tower Shut After BAPS Visit: What Happened To Trigger A Women Staff Protest?

The Eiffel Tower became the centre of a workplace dispute in Paris after a private visit by a delegation linked to BAPS, a Hindu socio-spiritual organisation.

Female employees said they were asked to move away from their workstations and avoid certain areas while the delegation was visiting on 5 September. The staff protest that followed led to the Eiffel Tower being closed to visitors on 7 September.

The landmark reopened on 8 September after discussions between employees and management. Paris authorities have also announced an investigation into what happened.

Here is what happened, what BAPS said, how France responded and what India said.

What Happened At The Eiffel Tower?

On Saturday, 5 September, around 100 people linked to BAPS made a private visit to the Eiffel Tower.

The delegation was in France around the time of the inauguration of BAPS' first major Hindu temple in the country, in Bussy-Saint-Georges near Paris. The temple was consecrated the following day, on 6 September.

According to Eiffel Tower staff representatives, female employees and female workers employed by contractors were instructed to move away from some areas while the delegation passed through.

Staff said some women were asked to leave their posts, while men took their places at some positions. They also said female employees were told not to cross certain areas while the delegation was present.

The Eiffel Tower's operating company, Société d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel, or SETE, acknowledged that the delegation had requested that the visit be organised to limit "interactions with women".

SETE said those conditions should not have been accepted and were not consistent with its values or the principle of equality between men and women.

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Why Did The Visit Become A Dispute?

The issue was not the delegation's visit itself. The dispute centred on the workplace arrangements made around it.

Staff members objected to instructions that they said resulted in female employees being moved away or replaced during the visit.

The protest followed discussions among Eiffel Tower employees about the incident and concerns over ensuring that female workers would not be treated in the same way again.

The Eiffel Tower was then closed to visitors on Monday, 7 September, as staff protested. It reopened on Tuesday, 8 September.

What Is BAPS?

BAPS, short for Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, is a Hindu socio-spiritual organisation in the Swaminarayan tradition.

According to BAPS, it was established in 1907 by Shastriji Maharaj in Bochasan, Gujarat.

The organisation says it works in areas including religious, cultural and social-service activities through its temples and centres.

What Did BAPS Say?

BAPS responded after the staff protest.

The organisation said that, because of the size of its delegation, the Eiffel Tower visit had been coordinated with the tower's team and scheduled at the beginning of normal opening hours to reduce disruption to other visitors.

BAPS also said that, to its knowledge, nobody had been denied access to the Eiffel Tower.

It apologised to anyone who may have been hurt or inconvenienced by the situation and said it remained committed to mutual respect and service to others.

BAPS did not accept responsibility in its statement for instructing Eiffel Tower employees to leave their posts.

What Did France Say?

Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire said an investigation would be launched as soon as possible.

He said the employees' dissatisfaction was legitimate and called for the circumstances that led to the protest to be clarified.

France's Minister for Equality between Women and Men, Aurore Bergé, also responded to the reports. She said that in France women should not be asked to make themselves invisible and that no religion was above the laws of the Republic.

Yaël Braun-Pivet, president of France's National Assembly, also criticised the reported treatment of female workers, saying that welcoming visitors should not mean giving up France's values.

Other French political figures, including Marine Le Pen and Gabriel Attal, also criticised the reported restrictions involving female staff.

What Has India Said?

India's Ministry of External Affairs has now responded to the controversy.

According to The Indian Express, the ministry said it was aware of the opening of the BAPS temple in the Paris area and described the Eiffel Tower issue as a local matter involving the concerned parties.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had separately addressed the BAPS temple inauguration through video conference on 6 September.

He described the temple as a milestone in India-France cultural relations and said it would contribute to France's diversity.

The incident has also drawn comments from Indian politicians. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi criticised the reported treatment of female Eiffel Tower employees and said the incident did not represent how India thinks about equality.

Her comments were made as a political leader and do not represent the official position of the Indian government.

What Happens Next?

The Eiffel Tower reopened on Tuesday, 8 September, after the one-day staff protest.

Paris authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the visit. The key questions include how the arrangements were made, who approved them and how the instructions concerning female staff were implemented.

TL;DR | News At a Glance

What happened?
Around 100 people linked to BAPS visited the Eiffel Tower on 5 September. Female staff said they were asked to move away from certain work areas during the visit.

Why was the Eiffel Tower closed?
Employees protested over the reported treatment of female staff, and the landmark was closed to visitors on 7 September. It reopened on 8 September.

What did SETE say?
The Eiffel Tower's operator said the delegation had requested arrangements limiting interactions with women and said those conditions should not have been accepted.

What did BAPS say?
BAPS said the visit was coordinated with the Eiffel Tower team, said no one was denied access to the monument and apologised to anyone who was hurt or inconvenienced.

What did France say?
Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire announced an investigation. French political leaders also criticised the reported treatment of female employees.

What did India say?
The Ministry of External Affairs described the matter as a local issue involving the concerned parties, according to The Indian Express.