The famous Eiffel Tower of Paris was closed on Monday due to the strike of employees. The employees conducted this strike during a recent personal visit in protest against the instructions to remove women employees from their duty places and stop them from going to certain areas.
This case is related to the visit of a delegation of about 100 people belonging to a Hindu religious organization to the Eiffel Tower. This delegation was associated with Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS). This visit of the organization took place on Saturday. On the same day, a cultural boat procession was also organized by BAPS on the river Seine.
Were women employees removed from their duty places?
According to Eiffel Tower employees, during the visit of the delegation, female employees were asked to leave certain workplaces. At some places, male employees were deployed in their place. At the same time, some women employees were also forbidden from going to the areas which were being used by the delegation.
What did you call the company that operates the Eiffel Tower?
The company admitted that the female employees were asked to ‘disappear’. SETE, the company that operates the Eiffel Tower, issued a statement regarding this matter. The company admitted that the delegation had asked to make such arrangements so that interactions with women could be limited.
SETE said that the female employees of the Eiffel Tower and those working for the contractors were instructed to keep themselves ‘invisible’ during the reception of this delegation.
The company said it was surprised to be placed in this position. According to SETE, some women employees were asked to move away from their duty areas to other areas. At some places, male employees were deployed in their place. Apart from this, all women employees were also barred from passing or crossing certain areas during the presence of the delegation.
SETE said- such conditions should not have been accepted…
SETE said that such conditions should not have been accepted. According to the company, these conditions were not in line with its values and the principle of equality between men and women in France. SETE President Ariel Weil called this arrangement unacceptable. He said that the Eiffel Tower is committed to democratic values and equality of men and women.
What did the mayor of Paris say?
Paris Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire also expressed displeasure over this matter. He said that it was unacceptable to accept that the management of the Eiffel Tower accepted such conditions of the delegation. He said that investigation will be started in this matter. About 70 lakh people visit the Eiffel Tower every year. The tower remained closed for the entire day on Monday due to the strike by the employees. It was expected to reopen on Tuesday.
What did BAPS say?
At the same time, BAPS has said that the concerns raised regarding the Eiffel Tower tour will be taken seriously. BAPS representatives had arrived in France for programs related to the inauguration of a Hindu temple near Paris. The organization said that the tour of the Eiffel Tower was organized in collaboration with the team there around the time of opening earlier than usual.
According to BAPS, the size of the delegation was large and the purpose of the visit was to minimize the inconvenience to other tourists as much as possible. BAPS said that to its knowledge, access to the Eiffel Tower had not been blocked by any person. However, the organization said that if this situation has caused any hurt or inconvenience to anyone, it sincerely apologizes for that.
What did the different political parties in France say?
After this incident, controversy has increased in France also. Leaders of different political ideologies have criticized this matter. Equality Minister Aurore Berge said women in France should not be asked to ‘erasure’ or ‘make themselves disappear’. He said that in France no religion or principle is above the laws of the Republic.
Right-wing presidential candidate Marine Le Pen also said that France will not accept any restrictions on the presence of women. Centrist leader Gabriel Attal also reacted to the matter. She said that no culture, no belief, no religion, no thing and no person can give women the right to decide what their place should be.