Employees at the Hindustan Times have now received an email from the Executive Director - Operations & HR which describes the 'shelving' of operations in seven cities as being necessitated by the "move towards an accelerated digital strategy". He also says that the pruning is being done to strengthen 'prime HT editions' at five cities. Meanwhile the Brihanmumbai Union of Journalists describes the decision as 'malicious and illegal' and suggests that it is being done to avoid implementing the Majithia wage board award.