BAPS Hindu sect faces scrutiny in France and United States over Paris temple plans

France was forced to confront the presence of the Hindu organization BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha) after a recent strike at the Eiffel Tower, which highlighted the sect’s involvement in a high‑profile construction project. The incident prompted French officials to seek a rapid briefing on BAPS, a group that has faced scrutiny in the United States for alleged links to far‑right Hindu nationalist movements for more than five years. Indian expatriates in France, who have long warned about the rise of such groups, noted that their appeals for greater awareness arrived only after the Eiffel Tower episode.

Public debate now centers on how BAPS secured permission to build a large temple complex near Paris without earlier objections. Critics question the vetting procedures that allowed the project to proceed and demand transparency regarding any connections between the sect and extremist ideologies. French authorities have indicated they will review the approval process, while the broader discussion reflects growing concern over foreign religious organizations and their influence on French society.