Cinema VinesIndian singer Chinmayi Sripaada has publicly slammed the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) after reports surfaced that women employees at the Eiffel Tower were told to leave their workstations during a BAPS delegation’s visit. The incident, which took place on Saturday, sparked a strike by Eiffel Tower staff on Monday, with union representatives describing the directive as humiliating and discriminatory.
Chinmayi took to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, to share a news article about the row and questioned the logic behind BAPS’ alleged request. In her tweet she wrote, “Why should women stay out of sight when BAPS visit? Women will pollute them or what?” The singer’s comments added fuel to an already tense situation.
Diane Davoine, a union representative for the Eiffel Tower, told Reuters that the women were asked to vacate their positions so that men could take their places. She said the instruction left the female staff feeling “humiliated.” The staff, she added, had decided to meet management to ensure that such treatment would never happen again.
In response to the backlash, BAPS issued a statement on X clarifying that the visit had been coordinated in advance with the Eiffel Tower’s teams and that no one was denied access to the monument. The statement read, “To our knowledge, at no time was access to the Eiffel Tower denied to anyone. 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.”
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also weighed in. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the ministry was aware of the opening of a BAPS temple in the Paris area and that the issue concerning the Eiffel Tower was a matter between the parties involved. He noted that the Prime Minister had sent virtual good wishes on the occasion, adding that there was no reason for further comment on the matter.
