Canterbury's archbishop Justin Welby to offer peace prayers in Amritsar, but all eyes on Jallianwala Bagh visit

AMRITSAR: For the first time, the archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will visit Amritsar to offer prayers for peace with the neighbouring countries, especially with Pakistan .

While talking to TOI on Tuesday, Bishop of Amritsar, Diocese of Amritsar, Church of North India, PK Samantaroy informed that Justin Welby, the 105 archbishop of Canterbury, along with his wife Caroline Welby would be in the city on September 9 and 10.

However, all eyes will be on Justin Welby’s visit to Amritsar - whether he will offer a full apology for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre or will he also fall short of apology as UK’s former Prime Minster Theresa May .

Notably on the 100th anniversary of pogrom , May, in the British parliament, had expressed ‘deep regret’ of the British era massacre of Jallianwala Bagh that left scores of peacefully protesting Indians dead after British Colonel Reginald Dyer opened fire on them on April 13, 1919.

Archbishop of Canterbury’s India visit will begin from August 31 from Kotayyam and after visiting Bangalore, Hyderabad, Jabalpur, he would reach Amritsar on September 9.

“He is scheduled to visit Jallianwala Bagh and Golden Temple besides he would offer peace prayers in a function on September 10” said Samantaroy.

Bishop of Amritsar also informed that Justin Welby would meet Christian community to get to know their issues . He informed that he (Justin Welby) was also keen to meet religious leaders of different faiths.

Stating that the minority communities were at the receiving end, Samantaroy said Justin Welby would also access the situation and engage them with their respective faith leaders.