Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani says expatriate Indians in certain countries, including the United States, will get dual citizenship before the year-end.

"The Bill has already been introduced in Parliament and it will now go to the standing committee (of Parliament)," he said. "Once it comes back, probably with some amendments, it will be passed. People in the US and in some other countries will actually have the right of dual citizenship by the end of this year," Advani told a community reception organized by the Indian-American community at the Hilton Tower Hotel in Chicago. The guests at the dinner reception, numbering over 1,000, greeted Advani's announcement with prolonged applause.

Advani, who projected his National Democratic Alliance government's achievements, said he hoped and prayed Atal Bihari Vajpayee will become prime minister again.

He said two of India's greatest strengths for which the country is admired in the comity of nations are its democratic system of governance and the contributions made by non-resident Indians across the globe.

Advani said by 2020 India should become a developed country and not continue to remain a developing country. "The 21st century will belong to India. I am sure non resident Indians would probably do more than resident Indians towards this goal," he said. "Let us join hands so together Indians and non-resident Indians can help develop India."