The Eiffel Tower in Paris was closed on September 4, 2023, due to a staff strike protesting the exclusion of female workers during a visit by the Hindu group Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS). BAPS issued an apology, stating that their visit was pre-coordinated with the tower's management and that no one was denied access. They expressed understanding of the concerns raised and apologized to anyone who may have been hurt or inconvenienced. BAPS stated, "To our knowledge, at no point was anyone denied access to the Eiffel Tower. Nevertheless, we sincerely apologise to anyone who may have been hurt or inconvenienced by this situation." The group consisted of around 100 men, and the operating company, SETE, acknowledged that the conditions set for the visit were a mistake, stating, "These conditions should not have been accepted."
In other news, a group of men has been arrested in connection with the death of Manipuri musician Chongtham Vikram Singh, who was reportedly beaten outside his apartment in Southeast Delhi after confronting a group of delivery workers and local eatery staff for drinking and causing a disturbance. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticized local authorities and Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the safety of individuals from northeastern states in Delhi, stating, "A father, killed outside his own home, in his own country's capital. After many such incidents, every Northeast family in Delhi is asking the same question today - are we safe here?" Manipur's Chief Minister, N Biren Singh, also expressed condolences and urged Delhi Police to take swift action, sharing CCTV footage that allegedly shows the suspects after the assault.
Additionally, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, emphasized the importance of Iran's relationship with India ahead of President Masoud Pezeshkian's visit to New Delhi for the upcoming BRICS summit scheduled for September 12-13, 2023. Baghaei noted that the discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek reaffirmed Iran's commitment to enhancing economic collaboration with India.