French authorities have launched an investigation after female Eiffel Tower employees were reportedly removed from duty during a private visit by a BAPS delegation, prompting a staff strike and temporary closure. Union leaders say about 100 visitors were involved and that women were asked to leave their posts; management has apologised and said such conditions should not have been accepted. The episode renewed scrutiny of BAPS, which has faced past legal allegations in the U.S., and drew firm statements from Parisian and national officials defending gender equality.
France Probes Removal Of Female Eiffel Tower Staff During Visit By Hindu Delegation
Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Hindu monks take part in a religious ceremony in front of the Eiffel Tower before a ceremonial river parade on the river Seine in Paris on September 3, 2026. / Credit: Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD /AFP via Getty Images
French authorities have opened an inquiry after several female employees at the Eiffel Tower were reportedly taken off duty during a private visit by a delegation linked to the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), prompting a staff strike and the temporary closure of the landmark on Monday.
Union reaction and closure
Union representative Diane Davoine told Reuters that a group of roughly 100 visitors connected to BAPS attended the site on Saturday and that "women were asked to leave their places of work in order to place men there." She said management has repeatedly apologized, but employees felt humiliated and decided to strike, leading to the monument's closure while talks with management were arranged.
Official responses and investigation
Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire said the employees' "dissatisfaction is legitimate" and announced a prompt investigation. In a post on X he added: "It is not acceptable that such conditions can be tolerated. Equality between women and men will never stop at the foot of our historical monuments, nor anywhere in this city. It must be applied everywhere, for everyone."
The Société d'Exploitation de la tour Eiffel, which operates the landmark, told AFP that the BAPS delegation had asked for their visit to involve limited "interactions with women," and acknowledged that "these conditions should not have been accepted."
Context about BAPS and past allegations
BAPS sadhus (monks) take vows of celibacy and are traditionally prohibited from physical contact with women; that restriction applies to sadhus specifically and not to all followers. BAPS is a large Hindu denomination that observers say has close ties to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ruling BJP party.
The organisation has faced controversy previously: a 2021 lawsuit in the United States alleged that BAPS trafficked low-caste workers from India to labour on temple projects under harsh conditions and for minimal pay. The lawsuit named temple sites in New Jersey, California, Texas, Georgia and Illinois and alleged that workers believed two colleagues died from a preventable lung disease linked to silica dust exposure. These are allegations made in legal filings; investigations and outcomes vary by case.
Aftermath
A day after the Eiffel Tower visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared by video link at the inauguration of a new BAPS temple in Paris, calling it "a new milestone in the cultural relations between India and France." The BAPS Paris temple later posted an apology on X expressing regret for anyone "hurt or inconvenienced by this situation," without clarifying whether the delegation had explicitly requested female staff be removed. BAPS did not immediately respond to requests for further comment from international news outlets.
France's prime minister Gabriel Attal wrote on X that "in France, no culture, no belief, no worship, nothing nor anyone can come dictate to women their place." The incident has sparked debate about workplace equality, the appropriate accommodation of religious practices in public venues, and the responsibilities of institutions hosting private delegations.
Note: Reporting here reflects statements from unions, the tower operator and public officials, as well as previously reported allegations against BAPS. The investigation underway in France may clarify the facts and responsibility for the staffing decisions.
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