Paris: The Eiffel Tower, one of the world’s most recognisable landmarks, was shut to visitors on September 7 after its employees went on strike over allegations that female staff were asked to step away from their workplaces during a private visit by a delegation associated with the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS).
The episode triggered an official investigation in Paris and a political reaction in France. BAPS, however, has moved to clarify the circumstances surrounding the visit, stating that it had been arranged in coordination with Eiffel Tower authorities, that the large size of the delegation was a key consideration in organising the visit at the start of normal opening hours, and that, to its knowledge, “at no time was access to the Eiffel Tower denied to anyone.”
The organisation also acknowledged the concerns raised by Eiffel Tower employees and offered an apology to anyone who may have been hurt or inconvenienced, while reaffirming its commitment to “the universal values of mutual respect and service to others.”
Nous comprenons les préoccupations exprimées et les prenons très au sérieux.
Compte tenu de la taille de notre délégation, la visite a été organisée en coordination avec les équipes de la tour Eiffel, au début des horaires habituels d’ouverture, afin de limiter autant que… pic.twitter.com/gyiwzmh6Jv
— BAPS Mandir Swaminarayan Hindou de Paris (@BAPSParis) September 7, 2026
The BAPS delegation was in France as part of events surrounding the inauguration of the BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir at Bussy-Saint-Georges, near Paris a major milestone for France’s Hindu community and a project that has received significant attention from Indian diplomatic and political circles.
Rather than allowing the Eiffel Tower episode to define its wider presence in France, BAPS has sought to put the record straight while continuing with a programme centred on Hindu culture, spirituality, community service and India-France cultural ties.
What happened at the Eiffel Tower?
Around 100 people linked to BAPS visited the Eiffel Tower on September 5 as part of events surrounding the organisation’s historic Mandir inauguration in France.
According to representatives of Eiffel Tower employees, female staff were allegedly asked to leave their workstations or move away during the delegation’s visit, with some reportedly replaced by male colleagues.
Diane Davoine, a representative of the Eiffel Tower employees’ union, told Reuters that women had been asked to leave their places of work so that men could occupy those positions. Staff subsequently held a meeting and decided to protest, seeking assurances that female employees would not be treated in such a manner again.
The matter escalated on September 7 when Eiffel Tower employees walked out, forcing the landmark to close.
The operator of the monument, the Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), acknowledged that arrangements had been made to limit interaction between the delegation and female employees. SETE subsequently said that such conditions should not have been accepted and apologised to its employees.
Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire ordered an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
BAPS clears the air
As attention around the incident grew, BAPS issued a detailed response that sought to clarify its understanding of what had taken place. BAPS did not dismiss the concerns raised by Eiffel Tower employees. Instead, it acknowledged them directly while also providing its account of the arrangements for the visit.
The organisation said: “We understand the concerns expressed and take them very seriously.”
Explaining the circumstances, BAPS stated: “Given the size of our delegation, the visit was organized in coordination with the Eiffel Tower teams, at the start of normal opening hours, in order to limit as much as possible any disruption for other visitors.”
BAPS also made an important clarification regarding access to the monument, stating: “To our knowledge, at no time was access to the Eiffel Tower denied to anyone.”
The organisation nevertheless expressed regret over the impact of the episode, saying: “Nevertheless, we wish to offer our sincere apologies to anyone who may have been hurt or inconvenienced by this situation.”
BAPS concluded by reaffirming its broader principles: “We are deeply committed to the universal values of mutual respect and service to others.”
The statement effectively sets out BAPS’s position: the visit was coordinated with Eiffel Tower authorities, arrangements were made with the stated objective of managing a large delegation without disrupting other visitors, and the organisation says it was not aware of anyone being denied access. At the same time, BAPS acknowledged the concerns that emerged and apologised for any hurt or inconvenience caused.
The Eiffel Tower operator also faces questions
While much of the public attention has focused on BAPS, the role of the Eiffel Tower’s management is also relevant to understanding how the arrangements came about.
SETE has acknowledged that arrangements were made at the monument to limit interaction between the delegation and female employees and has itself said that such conditions should not have been accepted.
This is significant because the visit was not an unplanned or unauthorised entry. BAPS has stated that the arrangements were coordinated with the Eiffel Tower teams, making the management of the visit an important part of the ongoing investigation into what occurred.
A Hindu Mandir of historic significance in France
The Eiffel Tower episode came at a particularly significant moment for BAPS, as the organisation was simultaneously marking the inauguration of its first major traditional Hindu Mandir in France at Bussy-Saint-Georges, near Paris.
BAPS spiritual leader Mahant Swami Maharaj presided over the Vedic consecration ceremony, which included Vedic chanting, mahapuja and the first arti.
The Mandir represents decades of vision and effort. BAPS traces its origins to Yogiji Maharaj’s 1970 visit to France, when the vision for a Hindu Mandir in the country was first blessed. The project was subsequently carried forward by Pramukh Swami Maharaj and ultimately brought to completion under Mahant Swami Maharaj.
The inauguration formed part of a 13-day Festival of Culture featuring devotional and cultural programmes across Bussy-Saint-Georges and Paris. The Indian Embassy in France welcomed the inauguration as a moment of joy for the Indian community and highlighted the Mandir’s combination of Indian craftsmanship and French engineering.
The symbolism of the “Namaste” sculpture outside the Mandir is particularly relevant in the present circumstances. With its folded hands representing welcome, respect and humility, the sculpture was conceived as a symbol of openness and peaceful coexistence.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also addressed the inauguration and highlighted the Mandir as a symbol of India-France cultural ties. The occasion was intended to showcase Hindu culture, Indian craftsmanship, spirituality and the longstanding relationship between India and France.
Against that backdrop, BAPS’s clarification over the Eiffel Tower episode assumes particular importance: the organisation has sought to separate the circumstances of one private visit from the broader cultural and spiritual work represented by the Mandir and its activities in France.
BAPS’s wider record of building Mandirs and communities
The Paris Mandir is part of a much larger global effort by BAPS to establish places of worship that also function as centres of cultural preservation, community activity, volunteer service and spiritual education.
One of the most prominent examples is the Swaminarayan Akshardham Mandir in Robbinsville, New Jersey, one of BAPS’s most ambitious religious and cultural projects outside India.
The Mandir attracted significant attention in 2021 after a group of workers raised allegations concerning the conditions under which the project was constructed. BAPS firmly rejected the allegations, explaining that the Mandir was built largely through seva voluntary service offered by devotees as an expression of faith, dedication and community spirit.
The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey subsequently conducted a federal investigation over several years. In September 2025, BAPS announced that the federal investigation had been closed without criminal charges being filed against the organisation. BAPS welcomed the decision and reiterated its position that the Mandir was the result of voluntary service, devotion and the extraordinary commitment of thousands of devotees and artisans.
Beyond the investigation, the Robbinsville Mandir stands as a major achievement of craftsmanship and collective service. Built over 12 years with the contribution of more than 12,500 volunteers and artisans, the magnificent Akshardham is one of the largest Hindu Mandirs outside India. Its intricate craftsmanship and monumental scale represent the ability of a global Hindu community to preserve and celebrate its heritage far from its traditional homeland.
BAPS Mandirs have also been targeted by vandalism
At the same time, several BAPS Mandirs in the United States have themselves become targets of acts of vandalism carrying explicitly anti-Hindu and anti-India messages.
One of the most serious incidents took place at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Melville, Long Island, New York, on September 16/17, 2024. The Mandir premises were defaced with messages including “Hindus go back,” “Modi is a terrorist” and “Hindustan Murdabad.” The incident drew concern from members of the Hindu-American community, particularly as another BAPS Mandir was targeted within days.
On September 25, 2024, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Mather, near Sacramento, California, was similarly vandalised with anti-Hindu graffiti, including the message “Hindus go back.” The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office also reported that water lines at the property had been deliberately cut and investigated the incident as a hate crime.
The pattern continued in 2025. On March 8, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills, California, was vandalised with anti-Hindu and anti-India messages, including references targeting India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Surveillance footage reportedly captured individuals approaching the Mandir and defacing its exterior, while authorities investigated the incident as a hate crime.
