... There are two real lessons to be learnt from the Coimbatore blasts. First, that state government cannot afford to view intelligence alerts so casually ... Second, the Coimbatore experience is a warning to all political parties to not play footsie with religious extremists. There may be short-term gains from being soft on those with a divisive agenda but this strategy inevitably rebounds, with catastrophic consequences. The DMK has experienced it with the Tamil Tigers, the Congress with ... Bhindranwale and the BJP with the VHP. It is a shame that no lessons have been learnt.