Not involved, says government amid controversy over religious group’s Eiffel Tower tour
The Indian government has distanced itself from a controversy involving the BAPS religious group, whose members allegedly requested the exclusion of female employees during a visit to the Eiffel Tower. The incident occurred shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a BAPS temple in the Paris suburbs, leading to a strike by tower staff.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the intersection of international diplomacy, religious sensitivity, and labor rights, potentially impacting India's cultural relations with France.
The government on Tuesday (September 8, 2026) faced questions over its links to a religious group whose allegedly “anti-women” demands caused the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris to shut down for a day, leading to a major political row in France. Paris city officials have begun a formal inquiry into the incident, and the Hindu group, known as BAPS, denied making any demands to “limit interactions” with women employees at the tower.
The shutdown came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a temple built by BAPS in a Paris suburb. In a 10-minute virtual address, Mr. Modi had called the construction a “new chapter” in India-France cultural relations. The External Affairs Ministry said the Prime Minister often addressed such events and India was not involved in the controversy at the Eiffel Tower.
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