The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed on Tuesday its awareness of the recent opening of a temple by the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha in Paris. This development has sparked controversy, particularly following the visit of a BAPS delegation to the Eiffel Tower, which has drawn attention to the event.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was responding to questions regarding reports that the female employees were ‘removed’ from the Eiffel Tower premises during a visit by the Hindu religious group. The staff at the Eiffel Tower later went on a strike over it.
“We are aware of the opening of a temple by the BAPS Sanstha in the Paris area. “It is a common practice for the Prime Minister to convey his good wishes on such occasions. In this case, it was done virtually.
However, it distanced itself from the dispute and said that it was a matter “between the entities concerned”. As to the particular issue pertaining to the Tower, this is a matter purely between the entities concerned”, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. Jaiswal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address at the inauguration of the temple was part of the government’s practice of conveying “good wishes” on such occasions. There is no cause for any comment in this regard,” he said. In a statement, Eiffel Tower staff condemned “professional instructions that led to female employees being sidelined, replaced, and rendered invisible based on their gender” during the visit by the delegation. BAPS is a spiritual, volunteer-driven fellowship “dedicated to improving society through individual growth by fostering the Hindu values of faith, service, and global harmony.”, according to its website.
