Paris investigates claim women step out during Hindu visit

Female employees at the Eiffel Tower were asked to step out of sight during a visit by a Hindu religious delegation at the weekend, according to union representatives, prompting a staff protest and an investigation by Paris city authorities.
The monument was closed late on Monday as employees held a meeting over the incident, which has angered staff and drawn criticism from French politicians.
On Saturday, a delegation of about 100 people linked to the Hindu group Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, or BAPS, made a private visit to the Eiffel Tower.
“As the delegation passed through, women were asked to leave their workstations so that men could take their places,” according to a union representative.
“Tensions mounted over the weekend, so this morning, the employees decided to meet: first, to open a dialogue with management, and second, to ensure that women are never treated this way at the company again,” the spokesperson added.