New Delhi: Cutting across party lines four Rajya Sabha MPs have spoken out against Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani. The MPs have alleged that minister is interfering with the functioning of IITs and universities.

The four MPs are KC Tyagi, D Raja, Rajiv Shukla and DP Tripathi.

The MPs have also asked President Pranab Mukherjee to step in to protect the educational institutions.

Recently nuclear scientist and former chairman of the board of governors of IIT Bombay Anil Kakodkar spoke against the decision making process at the educational institution.

The scientist apparently resigned because of differences with the HRD Ministry over selection of some IIT directors.

Kakodkar, whose tenure was supposed to come to an end in May 2015 has, however, agreed to continue till that period after being persuaded by Irani, who had a long telephonic conversation with him, sources in the ministry said.

“I have put down my papers because I want to move ahead,” Kakodkar had said but refused to comment on queries whether differences had cropped up between him and the minister over selection of the directors.

Kakodkar’s resignation came two months after IIT Delhi director R Shevgaonkar had stepped down from his post in December 2014 which had triggered a controversy amidst reports that there were sharp differences between him and the ministry over certain issues. His resignation is yet to be accepted.