New Delhi, Sep 22 - The government must not dilute excellence and quality in the name of regulating the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), their faculty shot back Tuesday, hours after Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal asked them to refrain from protests.

'Don't dilute the structure of the IITs. In the name of regulation, the government must not dilute the excellence of these institutions,' M. Thenmozhi, head of the IITs National Faculty Federation, told IANS.

'It is not about money but about quality. What we are demanding in terms of hike is less than the Goverdhan Mehta Committee suggestions. As of now, we will go by our decision of hunger strike on Thursday,' she said.

On Monday, over 1,300 teachers of the IITs decided to launch hunger strike Thursday to protest the government's 'apathy' towards their demand for a higher pay package and relaxation in teachers' appointment rules.

Expressing his disapproval of their move, Sibal Tuesday stressed that 'the faculty behavior doesn't meet IIT standards'.

'It is not possible to say there will be no regulation as we are accountable to parliament and the people of India.