An investigation has been launched into the Eiffel Tower's decision to sideline female staff during a visit by a Hindu religious group, an incident that sparked employee outrage, a staff walkout and the temporary closure of the Paris landmark. Paris Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire condemned the move as "absurd, unjust and unacceptable" and announced two separate probes, one by the city (which owns 99% of the tower) and another internal review by operator SETE, after the delegation had reportedly requested limited "interactions with women" during its visit.

SETE admitted the conditions "should not have been accepted", while staff said female employees, including contractors, were told to leave their posts, were replaced by men, or barred from certain areas while the group, linked to the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) movement close to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party, was present. The visit followed BAPS opening its first major French temple near Paris, consecrated by its 93-year-old spiritual leader. BAPS apologised for any "inconvenience" but denied anyone was refused access, while French gender equality minister Aurore Berge and presidential hopefuls Marine Le Pen and Gabriel Attal all publicly criticised the decision.