Dharamshala: - The spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama on July 7 has expressed his sadness over the serial bomb blasts at Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya, Bihar State of India.

Terming the series of blasts at Mahabodhi temple complex in Bihar as "unfortunate", said the His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

"But we should not consider it is something a serious, I don't think," said His Holiness.

"Few individuals, some such incidents happen- it's understandable. "Of course it's very sad," His Holiness however told reporters in south India.

Eight low-intensity blasts took place early in the morning in quick succession at the 1,500-year-old Mahabodhi temple, annually visited by millions of pilgrims from all over the world. Two monks were injured in the attack.

Dharamshala: - The speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile will visit Italy and Switzerland from 5 – 16 July, the parliamentary secretariat said.

According to the Central Tibetan Administration, speaker Penpa Tsering will take part in meetings with Italian parliamentarians and members of Tibet Support Groups in Rome from 5 – 10 July, 2013.

During his visit to Zurich, the speaker will address the Tibetan community and meet with some of the key Swiss officials on 13 and 16 July respectively.

Dharamshala: - Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay left Dharamshala for visits to Tibetan settlements in Bylakuppe, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh from 6 – 14 July.

According to the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), 'Sikyong was scheduled to give an interview to Australia's ABC Television in Delhi on 4 July.'

"Sikyong will attend His Holiness the Dalai Lama's 78th birthday celebrations at Sera Jey monastery in Bylakuppe on 6 July. His Holiness the Dalai Lama will grace the occasion," CTA said.

He will visit Tibetan settlements and schools in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh from 8 – 14 July. He is expected to return to Dharamsala on 14 July.

Dharamshala: - Shri. Rajnath Singh, president of Bharatiya Janata Party has raised the issue of Tibet and the recent self-immolations, saying India should not remain "insensitive" to the "atrocities being committed on Tibetan monks".

His comment came after the national executive meeting of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which was recently held in Goa.

"In the past few months, hundreds of Buddhist monks have committed self-immolation in protest against the violation of the human rights by China in Tibet," Singh told reporters.

"India cannot remain insensitive to the atrocities being committed on the Buddhist monks in Tibet as we share a long history of cultural affinity with this region," he said.

Dharamshala: - Members of the 15th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile visited various Tibetan settlements and monasteries across India to ascertain ground difficulties facing the Tibetan community.

According to the Central Tibetan Administration, members of the Tibetan Parliament in exile; Dolma Tsering and Geshe Tseringpo visited Dondheling settlement (Kollegal), monasteries around the area and Tibetan sweater sellers in Ooty and Kodaikonal.  They met local Indian trade union leaders, local heads of administration and expressed gratitude for their help towards the Tibetan community members.

Tibetan Parliamentarian Jamyang Soepa visited Tashi Jong, Bir settlements, TCV Suja school and  other north Indian Tibetan settlements in Mandi, Tso Pema and Manali.

The Tibetan Parliamentarians spoke about the critical situation prevailing inside Tibet at the moment, resulting in over 118 self-immolations. They explained the policies of the Central Tibetan Administration and the resolutions passed in the 5th session of the 15th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile.  They also spoke about  His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s various activities and programmes around the world.

Dharamshala: Governor Washington Jay Inslee expressed his deep concern for the situation in Tibet and hoped that the legitimate concern of the Tibetan people is addressed.

According to the Central Tibetan Administration, Inslee said this while interacting with Mr Tashi Namgyal, member of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, during the Governor's Reception honouring the Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, the Washington State Commission on African American Affairs, the Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs and the Governor's Office of Indian Affairs.

Governor Inslee was a member of the US House of Representative representing the Ist Congressional District. He had spoken in favor of House resolution 1077 calling on the Chinese government to end its crackdown in Tibet and to enter into a substantive dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama to resolve the problem of Tibet.

He was a member of the bipartisan Congressional delegation led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi that met with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala in 2008.