Title: Paris Probe Clears BAPS of Asking Eiffel Tower to Remove Women Staff During Visit
An official Paris investigation has cleared the Hindu socio-spiritual organisation BAPS of allegations that it asked the Eiffel Tower to remove female employees during a private visit by its delegation, finding that a limited request was distorted as it passed through the landmark's management.
The probe by the General Inspectorate of the City of Paris, whose findings were reported by Le Parisien and AFP, found no written instruction, email or explicit request from BAPS seeking the exclusion of women. "There is not a single written document, not a single email expressing this opinion," the report stated, according to Firstpost.
How the controversy unfolded
The row began during a private visit by a BAPS delegation — around 100 people, according to PTI — to the Eiffel Tower on September 5. Female employees alleged they were sidelined, replaced at their posts and told to avoid certain areas while the delegation was on site. Staff staged a protest on September 7, forcing the iconic monument to close for a day before it reopened.
Investigators concluded that the original communication to the tower's operator, the Societe d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), concerned avoiding physical contact between religious figures and women — but the instruction was gradually expanded as it circulated through different levels of management. One woman working for a cleaning services provider was reportedly asked to wait until her break, while another female employee was replaced in an elevator during the delegation's descent. "Through word of mouth, the message was distorted," the investigation found.
BAPS welcomes findings; tower chief to step down
In a statement on Thursday, BAPS Paris reiterated that it had never asked for female employees to be hidden, removed or excluded, and expressed concern for the employees affected by the events. "The investigation establishes this fact that BAPS made no such request for women to be excluded along the visitor route," the statement said.
Separately, the company that runs the Eiffel Tower announced its head, Patrick Branco Ruivo, will step down at the end of the year, after an independent probe uncovered operational flaws linked to the September 5 visit that had led to the "unacceptable" removal of women staff.
Sources: Firstpost — "Eiffel Tower probe clears BAPS, finds no request to remove female staff during private visit" (firstpost.com)
Sources: The Economic Times — "Eiffel Tower row: Paris probe finds no explicit BAPS request to exclude women during delegation visit" (economictimes.indiatimes.com)
Sources: Telegraph India (PTI) — "Eiffel Tower probe clears BAPS of request to exclude women employees" (telegraphindia.com)
An official Paris investigation has cleared the Hindu socio-spiritual organisation BAPS of allegations that it asked the Eiffel Tower to remove female employees during a private visit by its delegation, finding that a limited request was distorted as it passed through the landmark's management.
The probe by the General Inspectorate of the City of Paris, whose findings were reported by Le Parisien and AFP, found no written instruction, email or explicit request from BAPS seeking the exclusion of women. "There is not a single written document, not a single email expressing this opinion," the report stated, according to Firstpost.
How the controversy unfolded
The row began during a private visit by a BAPS delegation — around 100 people, according to PTI — to the Eiffel Tower on September 5. Female employees alleged they were sidelined, replaced at their posts and told to avoid certain areas while the delegation was on site. Staff staged a protest on September 7, forcing the iconic monument to close for a day before it reopened.
Investigators concluded that the original communication to the tower's operator, the Societe d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), concerned avoiding physical contact between religious figures and women — but the instruction was gradually expanded as it circulated through different levels of management. One woman working for a cleaning services provider was reportedly asked to wait until her break, while another female employee was replaced in an elevator during the delegation's descent. "Through word of mouth, the message was distorted," the investigation found.
BAPS welcomes findings; tower chief to step down
In a statement on Thursday, BAPS Paris reiterated that it had never asked for female employees to be hidden, removed or excluded, and expressed concern for the employees affected by the events. "The investigation establishes this fact that BAPS made no such request for women to be excluded along the visitor route," the statement said.
Separately, the company that runs the Eiffel Tower announced its head, Patrick Branco Ruivo, will step down at the end of the year, after an independent probe uncovered operational flaws linked to the September 5 visit that had led to the "unacceptable" removal of women staff.
Sources: Firstpost — "Eiffel Tower probe clears BAPS, finds no request to remove female staff during private visit" (firstpost.com)
Sources: The Economic Times — "Eiffel Tower row: Paris probe finds no explicit BAPS request to exclude women during delegation visit" (economictimes.indiatimes.com)
Sources: Telegraph India (PTI) — "Eiffel Tower probe clears BAPS of request to exclude women employees" (telegraphindia.com)
