Eiffel Tower Shut: Women Sidelined for Hindu Visit

Grégoire called the exclusion of the female workers "unacceptable" and contrary to the "values that the Eiffel Tower stands for." He said the workers' anger was legitimate and that an investigation would begin "as soon as possible." "It is urgent that all light be shed on the facts that led to this protest," he wrote on X.

French equality minister Aurore Bergé wrote on X: "In France, we do not ask women to erase themselves. No dogma, no religion is above the laws of the Republic."

National Assembly president Yaël Braun-Pivet said she refuses "to accept that women should be told to step aside to meet the demands of foreign visitors," adding: "Welcoming others never means giving up our values. In France, women are fully present in public life. No one tells them to become invisible."

Marine Le Pen, the National Rally leader described by The Independent as a frontrunner in next year's presidential election, said France would "never accept that women's presence be 'limited.'"

BAPS said the visit was scheduled at the start of the day to avoid disrupting other visitors because of the size of the group. "To the best of our knowledge, at no point was anyone prevented access to the Eiffel Tower. Nevertheless, we sincerely apologise for any pain or inconvenience caused," the group said, adding that it is "deeply committed to the universal values of mutual respect and service to others."

SETE said the arrangements were "not in line with SETE's values, nor with the principle of equality between men and women," and that it was ready to accept the "consequences."