MEA Distances India from Eiffel Tower Staff Controversy Involving BAPS Delegation
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday addressed reports regarding a recent controversy at the Eiffel Tower, where female staff members allegedly faced restrictions during a visit by a delegation from the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS). In a measured response, the government emphasized that the incident remains an internal matter for the organizations involved.
The row, which led to a temporary closure of the iconic Parisian monument, gained significant media attention after staff unions alleged that female employees were sidelined to accommodate the religious delegation’s specific requests.
MEA Clarifies Government Stance
During a media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal acknowledged the organization’s recent activities in France, including the inauguration of a new temple in the Paris region. Addressing the specific allegations regarding the Eiffel Tower incident, Jaiswal maintained that the Indian government has no direct role in the dispute.
“We are aware of the opening of a temple by the BAPS Sanstha in the Paris area. As to the particular issue pertaining to the Tower, this is a matter purely between the entities concerned,” Jaiswal stated.
Responding to inquiries about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s virtual participation in the temple inauguration, the spokesperson described it as a routine diplomatic and cultural engagement. “It is a common practice for the Prime Minister to convey his good wishes on such occasions. In this case, it was done virtually. There is no cause for any comment in this regard,” he added.
The Core of the Controversy
The friction originated when union representatives claimed that the BAPS delegation requested to limit interactions with female staff. Diane Davoine, a spokesperson for the staff union, stated that several women were instructed to vacate their posts or avoid certain zones during the delegation’s visit, with some roles being filled by male counterparts. The union asserted that these actions left the affected employees feeling humiliated, prompting a work stoppage that led to the tower’s closure.
Société d’Exploitation de la tour Eiffel (SETE), the company that manages the landmark, later admitted that the delegation’s request should not have been accommodated. SETE president Ariel Weil reaffirmed the monument’s dedication to gender equality and “republican values,” suggesting a failure in internal decision-making processes.
BAPS Responds to Allegations
In the wake of the backlash, the BAPS organization issued a formal statement on social media, clarifying that their visit had been coordinated with monument staff ahead of time. The group maintained that they were under the impression all arrangements were standard operational procedures.
“To our knowledge, at no time was access to the Eiffel Tower denied to anyone,” the statement read. “Nevertheless, we wish to offer our sincere apologies to anyone who may have been hurt or inconvenienced by this situation. We are deeply committed to the universal values of mutual respect and service to others.”
Following discussions between the monument’s management and the labor unions on Monday, the Eiffel Tower resumed normal operations on Tuesday, marking an end to the immediate protest. The incident has since sparked broader debates in India regarding cultural sensitivity and organizational protocols when representing Indian institutions abroad.
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