8216;Ahmedabad docs using Swastika at RSS behest8217;

The IMA has, however, warned that use of 8216;Swastika8217; is against the set international practice of the medical profession.

8220;After there were objections to the misuse of 8216;Red Cross8217; symbol, the Arogya Bharti decided in September last that 8216;Swastika8217; can substitute the symbol Red Cross,8221; city based ophthalmologist and Arogya Bharti treasurer Dr Pravin Bhavsar said.

The Red Cross symbol can be used by members of the Red Cross Society or Armed Forces Medical Service, he said, adding that there is also a provision of fine of Rs 500 for others using this symbol.

The 8216;Swastika8217; symbol being used by the doctors in Ahmedabad is different from 8216;Nazi Swastika8217;, as they are using Hindu variation with four dots in the four segments. So far some two doctors are using this symbol on the boards of their clinics.

8220;Our campaign is spread only by word of mouth. It is not compulsory for the doctors to accept the use of this symbol in their clinics,8221; Bhavsar said.

Recently the Ahmedabad Medical Association AMA also had articles in its bulletin published in February, promoting use of 8216;Swastika8217;.