Parisian authorities and monument management have launched an official investigation into claims that female employees were systematically removed or hidden from public posts during a private visit by a Hindu delegation at the Eiffel Tower. The incident triggered immediate workplace walkouts, nationwide political outrage, and operational disruptions at one of the world's most iconic landmarks.What triggered the controversy at the Eiffel Tower?The dispute began following a private morning visit to the Eiffel Tower by a 100-member delegation associated with the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) spiritual organization. Staff members and union leaders reported receiving directives requiring female workers—including contractors—to leave their assigned posts, move away from designated public spaces, or hand over their duties to male colleagues as the group passed through. Staff unions quickly published statements condemning the directives, describing them as instructions that forced women to become invisible purely on the basis of their gender.Why did workers go on strike?In response to the operational directives, Eiffel Tower employees initiated a strike and held emergency assemblies, forcing the landmark to remain completely closed. Union representatives emphasized that staff walked off the job to voice solidarity with their female peers and demand clear commitments from leadership that gender-based segregation would never occur again at the monument. Management subsequently issued an apology to the workforce for how the visit was handled.How did French officials and management react?The Operating Company of the Eiffel Tower (SETE) acknowledged that organizers had submitted a request to limit interaction with female staff members, admitting that leadership should never have agreed to such terms. SETE President Ariel Weil emphasized that caving to those requirements breached both internal corporate values and republican tenets of gender equality. Additionally, Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire and French Equality Minister Aurore Bergé condemned the event, reinforcing that no religious principles or external visitors may override French laws protecting secularism and equality.What was the response from the BAPS delegation?In an official public response, BAPS denied ever requesting that organizers restrict access or force women out of view. The organization stated that the visit was scheduled early in the day simply to minimize general disruption given the size of their delegation. While maintaining that no individual was deliberately denied entry or access, BAPS expressed sincere regret and offered apologies to anyone who felt hurt or inconvenienced by the resulting situation.also read : Anak Krakatau Volcano Eruption: 2,300 Flights Cancelled in Indonesia
