Paris reels after Eiffel Tower closure over women sidelined for BAPS visit

The Eiffel Tower briefly closed after workers protested a private visit by the Hindu group BAPS, saying female staff were sidelined during the tour; SETE apologized for the conditions and Paris officials announced an investigation, while BAPS said access was not denied and apologized for any hurt caused. The episode sparked political condemnation in France and touches on wider debates about gender equality and BAPS’s international profile and past controversies.