India news: Hindu group apologizes over Eiffel Tower row

Below is a roundup of the top headlines from India on Tuesday, September 8.

Tired of missing our real-time updates? Click here to add us as a Preferred Source on Google. Then tap the "Star" or "Preferred" to keep DW News at the top of your feed.

BAPS apologizes over Eiffel Tower row, denies preventing access

A Hindu religious group has apologized after the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, was closed on Monday after staff went on strike to protest the exclusion of female workers during a visit by the organization.

The Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), however, reiterated that their tour was pre-coordinated with the tower's team, adding that no person was denied access. BAPS also offered apologies to anyone hurt or inconvenienced.

"We understand the concerns raised and take them very seriously. Given the size of our delegation, the visit was organised in coordination with the Eiffel Tower team at the beginning of normal opening hours to minimise any inconvenience to other visitors," BAPS said in a statement on social media.

"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 statement added.

Around 100 men from BAPS were visiting the landmark. The company that operates the Tower, SETE, said that the group had requested a visit as part of which the "interactions with women" would be limited.

SETE accepted that the decision was a mistake: "These conditions should not have been accepted."

Read more about the controversy here.

Hello! This is Seerat from DW's Studio Delhi, once again bringing you the latest from across India.

If you tried to go up the Eiffel Tower in Paris yesterday, you may have been in for a rude shock, as the tourist hotspot was closed over alleged discrimination during a visit by a Hindu group. The Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) has apologized for any inconvenience caused, but with a small caveat.

In Delhi, a Manipuri musician was killed after he objected to a group of men drinking raucously outside his apartment.

Finally, Iran has hailed its longstanding ties with India ahead of President Masoud Pezeshkian's visit to New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Summit from September 11 to 13.

For this and more, follow our live blog.