Sanjay Dutt's letter

The signature campaign in support of Sanjay Dutt on December 12 has been cancelled. The decision has been taken by the FWICE-CINTAA following Sanjay's emotional appeal to call it off.

In a letter addressed to his well wishers and supporters, Sanjay Dutt made an emotional appeal to his well-wishers in the industry. The actor writes,

"Me and my sister don't feel like orphans at all, especially after all the love that we have got from the film industry it has made me emotional. I thank every class worker who has come out in support of me. For me the knowledge is motivation and blessing enough. I humbly thank everyone and request them to withdraw their signature campaign.on December 12 2006."

Soon afterward, the 22 film associations supporting the actor called off the rally clarifying that that purpose of the rally and signature campaign was in no way to disrespect the judiciary.

"FWCE-CINTAA clarifies that it had always stated in the press that the motto of the signature campaign has nothing to do with the judicial process," read Dharmesh Tiwari, President of FWICE (Federation of Western Indian Cine Employees) from an official statement announcing the withdrawal of the campaign.

"It's just everybody expressing their feelings for Sanjay Dutt you know. He has been nice and he has done a lot for a lot of people," said actor Arshad Warsi.

Dutt himself later commented that the gesture of support was never technically a signature campaign.

"It was a prayer meeting, and there's nothing wrong in a prayer meeting. I don't know who said it was a signature campaign, it was nothing like that," said Sanjay Dutt later of the campaign.

Anyhow, the fraternity has evidently realised that Dutt does not want anything to hamper his case in court.

"I think that to each his own, if Sanju comes out and says we don't need it, I think we should respect what he has to say. Because he is the man who is literally in the dock. And if he turns around and says we don't need to do this, then I wouldn't be part of it," says actor Boman Irani who stars with Dutt in the two Munnabhai films and had joined in the support campaign.

In the industry, Dutt has been known by many to be large-hearted, and the campaign has been seen as the industry's way of saying 'thank you'.

Source