Visit by religious organization BAPS to the Eiffel Tower sparks debates on gender equality in France

A visit by a group from the Hindu community to the Eiffel Tower has sparked a political dispute in France. Complaints were lodged by monument employees who claim they were displaced from their jobs during the visit, and in some cases, replaced by men.

A delegation from Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) visited the Parisian landmark on Saturday. On Monday, Eiffel Tower staff announced a strike in protest, closing the monument for one day, after which it reopened on Tuesday.

Allegations and Visit Details

The French union CGT stated that employees and contractors were informed about a ban on entering or crossing certain areas of the tower during the group's visit. Reports indicate that some were asked to leave their posts and move elsewhere, while others were replaced by male colleagues.

Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), which manages the monument, acknowledged that the arriving group requested conditions limiting 'interaction with women.' The company issued an apology, stating that such conditions 'should not have been accepted.'

However, BAPS denies the assumption that their arrangements with the Eiffel Tower were aimed at excluding women. In a statement, the organization emphasized that the visit was coordinated with the tower's management due to the size of the delegation and 'was never intended as a gender-based request at any point.' They also stated that, to their knowledge, no one was denied access to the Eiffel Tower, and that they remain committed to equality and mutual respect.

On Sunday, a new BAPS Swaminarayan temple was solemnly inaugurated in the suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt near the French capital. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the ceremony remotely. The organization's headquarters are located in the state of Gujarat, Modi's home state.

Sect Known for Magnificent Temples

BAPS is a wealthy global Hindu religious organization within the Swaminarayan tradition, founded in India in 1907. This community is particularly known for its richly decorated stone temples and cultural complexes worldwide.

Among the most famous sites are the Swaminarayan Akshardham temple in New Delhi, the Akshardham complex in Robbinsville, New Jersey, as well as temples in London and Abu Dhabi. Although the organization does not publish its financial reports, some temples cost millions to build. According to public sources, the New Jersey temple cost approximately $96 million, and the one in Abu Dhabi cost about $84.2 million.

Funding comes from donations and regular member contributions. Globally, the organization has over a million followers and claims on its website to be present in more than 20 countries. The largest community outside India is located in the United States. The sect holds considerable influence, especially in western India.

A scholar from New York, Yogi Trivedi, co-author of a book on Swaminarayan Hinduism, stated in an interview with the Indian Express: 'I find it truly astonishing that these accusations are being leveled against a community known for actively promoting equality in caste, gender, and class through its humanitarian and social work.'

The saint from the early 19th century who founded the Swaminarayan tradition carried out reforms in Hindu society, particularly aimed at empowering and advancing women. The world religion, with over a billion followers, reveres the feminine principle. Among the many deities in the Hindu pantheon there are also prominent goddesses, and women worship on special days in these traditions. Nevertheless, gender discrimination and female abortion persist in contemporary Hindu society.

Why Is This Important for France?

The situation gained significance because the alleged medieval-style exclusion of women occurred in Paris—the cradle of the French Revolution and the very symbol of the inspiring republican ideals of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.

France has campaigned for decades for women's political, social, and reproductive rights. In 2024, the country became the first to explicitly enshrine the right to abortion in its Constitution.

France's Minister for Gender Equality and Fight Against Discrimination, Aurora Berger, posted on X: 'In France, gender equality is non-negotiable and is not subject to various standards. It is a principle, and there are no exceptions to it.'

French officials referenced these values when responding to the incident, asserting that religious or cultural considerations cannot justify differential treatment of women in a public workplace. Speaker of the National Assembly Yael Braun-Pivet noted that hosting visitors should not imply a requirement for women to disappear from public life. Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire stated that the incident would be investigated. Indian Foreign Ministry representative Randhir Jaiswal characterized the Eiffel Tower episode as a 'matter purely pertaining to the stakeholders.'

The famous Eiffel Tower in the French capital, Paris, was temporarily closed on Monday due to staff protests. The protest arose concerning a visit by a religious delegation from Hinduism.

It is alleged that during the visit, female employees were asked to leave their posts, and men were placed in their positions. This situation caused dissatisfaction among the personnel.

The incident occurred on Saturday when an Indian religious delegation of about 100 people associated with BAPS arrived at the Eiffel Tower. The delegation was in France to participate in events related to the opening of an Hindu temple near Paris.

Union representatives reported that during the delegation's passage, female employees were instructed to vacate their workstations, which were then occupied by men. The union questioned such actions.

Union representative Dinesh Davoin stated that discontent among workers was growing and emphasized that such treatment of women should not happen again. On Monday morning, employees held a meeting to discuss this issue with management and demand guarantees that no woman would be sidelined based on gender in the future.

Due to the staff meeting, the opening of the Eiffel Tower was delayed, and a notice regarding the late opening for operational reasons was posted on the monument. According to the union, management apologized to the employees for the incident, but the workers insist on a full investigation.

The company SETE, which manages the Eiffel Tower, also reacted to the event. The company acknowledged that the delegation had requested minimizing contact with female employees and noted that such conditions should not be accepted.

The Mayor of Paris, Emmanuel Grégoire, ordered an investigation into the matter, stating the need to quickly ascertain all circumstances of the incident due to the anger among the staff.

The CGT union also condemned what happened, accusing them of sidelining female employees based on gender and replacing them with men. The President of the French National Assembly, Yael Bronner-Piv, also expressed dissatisfaction, stating that women cannot be sidelined to satisfy the requests of foreign guests. She added that welcoming other people does not mean abandoning French values, and reminded that women fully participate in public life in France, and no one should be asked to become invisible.

This dispute arose while the opening of a large BAPS Hindu temple near Paris was taking place. During the ceremony held on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated virtually. PM Modi spoke about the cultural ties between India and France, noting that the temple would contribute to the spread of ancient Indian ideas and humanistic values in France.